million Marshall Center and a $14 million residence hall, as
well as minor projects ranging from pump stations to parking
lots.
USF is a client near and dear to the heart of Jan Ash, Ayres’
national director of communications/gas/pipelines and
subsurface utility engineering.
“Performing civil engineering on a higher education
campus brings us back to our years during school,” Ash
said. “We try to conceptualize the students’ use of our
work, making sure that their transit from dorms to class
and all other areas of campus is efficient and safe. Providing
continuing services leads to seeing the growth, planning,
and ongoing design of the campus. It is especially rewarding
when it’s your own alma mater.”
Ash has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USF and has
served for years on the USF College of Engineering Advisory
Board. In recognition of her professional accomplishments
and USF contributions, Ash received the 2017 Distinguished
Alumni Award from the USF College of Engineering.
Ayres is currently designing a $4.8 million new roundabout
entryway to the Tampa campus. The primary goal is
to accommodate a new student housing development
(The Village) and meet current and future vehicular and
pedestrian circulation needs. The project includes the design
of a sanitary sewer lift station serving The Village as well as
utility relocation design and coordination in conjunction with
the entryway improvements. This is a design/build project,
making communications among the university, contractor,
and engineer essential to success.
“Each campus project has its own unique challenges,
including limited time frames, budget restraints, and
preserving services while working on campus,” said Chris
Martin, project manager/engineer. “There are also challenges
in engineering in an urban environment where safety is
paramount.”
At USF, as at other higher education campuses, the critical
component of any project is “schedule, schedule, schedule,”
Ash said. Projects often have a short design time frame so
construction can occur during semester or summer breaks. If
construction needs to occur when students are on campus,
project managers work with the university to create an
extensive Americans with Disabilities Act design and sidewalk
detour to make sure all pedestrians and bicyclists can pass
through the construction zone safely.
As the university’s engineering partner, Ayres looks at more
than just the current project. Ash noted that the Ayres team
also works to understand funding sources, how money is
allocated from the state or constituents, and the priorities
for campus growth. Understanding the evolving process of
education and technology and how students learn is also key
to successful projects.
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