The short version
The big summer projects are finished. The summer program wrapped up on August 14 with the Heritage Hall bathrooms, the North Campus heat-pump connections, the Fieldhouse roof, the Founders Drive repaving and the Commerce Hall accessible entrance. This fall’s work is smaller and mostly preparation: one large site under construction, one elevator, and survey, drilling and design for the projects that build in summer 2027. Facilities posts detour notices in MyPorter on the Friday before work starts.
Projects with work on campus this fall
| Project | Location | Dates | Closures and detours | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second solar array (1.4 MW) | Reclaimed field next to the Forge Recreation Center | Sept 21, 2026 – Aug 2027. Racking through November, panels in spring. | Rec Center south lot rows K–M are closed. The gravel trail spur is fenced, so use the paved path. Trucks use the east service drive 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. | Office of Sustainability with Facilities |
| Founders Hall east elevator modernization | Founders Hall, east wing | Sept 28 – Oct 23, 2026 | The east elevator is out. Use the west elevator and the second-floor connector. | Facilities, Maintenance & Trades |
| Steam line replacement, phase 2: survey and vault inspection | Founders Drive, stone gate to Founders Union | Oct 19–30, 2026, nights only | Single-lane flagging 7 p.m.–5 a.m. Full replacement follows in summer 2027. | Energy & Central Plant |
| Halvorsen Library 24-hour study addition | Library east lawn | Geotechnical borings Oct 19–23. Schematic design through December. | A fenced area of about 40 by 60 feet. Drill noise runs 8 a.m.–3 p.m., never during finals. | Capital Planning & Construction |
| Advanced manufacturing & robotics lab | Service yard behind Founders Hall | Utility locating and relocation Nov 2–20. Groundbreaking spring 2027, opening fall 2027. | The service drive narrows to one lane, and loading-dock deliveries are by appointment. | Capital Planning & Construction |
| Heritage Hall finish work | Heritage Hall | Through Oct 30, 2026 | Window trim and shower-stall caulking in an occupied building. Work runs on weekdays 9 a.m.–4 p.m. only, and residents get 48 hours’ notice for their room. | Housing & Residence Life with Facilities |
| Kessler Hall HVAC & accessibility upgrade | Kessler Hall | Bids open Nov 12, 2026. Construction in summer 2027. | None this fall | Capital Planning & Construction |
| Founders Hall renovation, phase 1 | Founders Hall, one wing per summer | Design through spring 2027. Construction in summers 2027–2029. | None this fall. The building stays open during every academic year. | Capital Planning & Construction |
Notes on the bigger projects
The solar array roughly doubles campus solar generation. Details are in the groundbreaking announcement. Pile driving for the racking runs until about November 6 and can be heard from the Rec Center weight floor.
The Founders Hall renovation is the $15 million project announced in August. It covers mechanical systems, accessibility and classroom technology, one wing per summer, and the 1912 facade is preserved. The background is in the renovation announcement, and the budget sits in the capital table on Facilities Management. The order of the wings will be presented at the master plan open house.
The library addition is campaign-funded and still in schematic design, so this fall’s borings are about soils, not a start date. How it ranks against other needs is explained in the campus master plan.
Have your say
The annual master plan open house is on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the Founders Union Great Room. Boards will show the Founders Hall phasing, the library addition massing and the robotics lab site plan, and the project managers will be there to answer questions. Written comments go to planning@uwporterfalls.edu through November 30. To report a hazard at a work zone, such as an open trench, a blocked accessible route or a fence down, call Facilities at (715) 555–0145, or Campus Safety after hours. Routine problems go through the maintenance request system.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. These projects, budgets, dates, detours and the open house are invented. There is no work zone to avoid and no solar array going up behind a recreation center.