As several on-campus construction projects are beginning to wrap up, Jim Brummer, Physical Plant’s interim associate vice president for facilities, said all projects are on track.

“I feel like things are wrapping up well for the summer,” Brummer said. “I’m happy with where we’re at and where we’ll be when the students arrive.”

One of the biggest projects St. Thomas took on this summer was replacing the grass on the South Campus softball and soccer fields with artificial turf. In addition to the turf, the bleachers, scoreboard, fencing and softball dugouts will also be replaced.

The $2 million project is expected to be completed by August 15, and the soccer teams will begin practicing on the new field soon after.

The South Campus fields aren’t the only athletic venues getting upgrades. O’Shaughnessy Stadium’s near million-dollar video scoreboard was also a part of St. Thomas’ summer construction plans. It was given the official St. Thomas “look” at the beginning of the summer when it was surrounded with the campus’ signature Kasota Limestone.

Another big change on campus will be the new tenants on Murray Herrick’s second floor. St. Thomas’ Admissions Office will move from its current home on Finn street into the new space once construction is complete.

Brummer said he expects the construction to be finished in the next two weeks.

“We’ll be putting the final touches on, hanging doors, finishing hardware, finishing the floors, so in the next two weeks that will be complete from a construction standpoint,” Brummer said. “But I believe Admissions won’t move over until early September.”

Brummer said the university is still deciding how to use the old Admissions Office building.

A newly built sculpture garden is in progress in between Brady Educational Center and the Binz Refectory. The garden includes a 3,200-pound copper sculpture called “The Family” by Evelyn Raymond, a five-piece, 21-ton sculpture called “Stephen’s Summer” by John Raimondi, and a third sculpture moved from another area on South Campus.

Brummer said there are also plans to install a paved path and do some landscaping around the sculpture garden, all of which should be finished by mid-August.

The Modern and Classical Language offices are also getting a facelift this summer. All 2,800 square feet of office space on the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center’s third floor is being renovated, and will be finished by August 15.

Gabrielle Martinson can be reached at mart5649@stthomas.edu