Source: WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
WVSU 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM 2023-2027
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031302
Grant No.
2023-45200-41138
Cumulative Award Amt.
$1,807,460.39
Proposal No.
2023-05855
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2028
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[LS]- Section 1447 Facilities Grants
Recipient Organization
WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 1000
INSTITUTE,WV 25112
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
West Virginia State University strategically invests its 1890 Facilities program funds to expand and enhance programming in the food, agricultural, human, and environmmental sciences.Continued programmtic growth in these areas requires appropriate facilties to effectively carryout the mission of these activities.This five year plan of work will build upon previous efforts to enhance, expand and better integrate agricultural research, academics, and Extension programming at WVSU. The plan addresses both immediate and long-term space utlization needs. Specifically this plans primary strategic focus is to continue the restructuring of the University's Agricultural and Environmental Research Station facilities as well as expand needed Extension programming spaces and develop a fully integrated Agricultural Research, Teaching, and Extension facility.The three main goals of this plan of work are: (1) Support the University's Land-Grant Program' overall administrative functions by providing physical infrustructure in support of its tripartite mission; (2) Develop new and enhance existing physical infrustrcutre for the conduct of agricultural research and delivery of agricultural education programs; and (3) Develop new and enhance existing physical infrustrucure in support of the University's Extension service program deliveryAll proposed activities will be strategically staggered throughout the 5 year program cycle with a minimum of 1 major project been implemented each year.Key projects include development of infrustrcuture, final renovations of the integrated research and Extension building, renovation of buildings integrated into the Food and Agricultural complex, and implementing phase three of the Greenhouse complex development.Successful completion of these projects will translate into significant impacts for the University's faculty/staff/students and the communities we serve.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
00100010001100%
Knowledge Area
001 - Administration;

Subject Of Investigation
0001 - Administration;

Field Of Science
0001 - Administration;
Keywords
Goals / Objectives
The five-year plan for the expenditure of Section 1447, 1890 Facilities Program, will address the following overall goals and objectives:Goal 1:Support infrastructure development to support continued implementation and expansion of Agricultural research, teaching and extension programs.Objective 1.1To continue implementing site improvements and infrastructure development (e.g. utilities, parking and landscape) of existing and future properties and facilities.Objective 1.2To renovate, improve, and condition buildings for administrative and programing space.Goal 2:Develop new and enhance existing plant and physical infrastructure specifically related to the University's 1890 Agricultural research programming, including development of new research space and the renovation of existing and future buildings for the conduct of research and implementation of agricultural research-based education.Objective 2.1To continue efforts to restructure and enhance the Agricultural and Environmental Research Station, including enhancement and expansion of the recently added greenhouse complex and renovation of additional space (e.g.Building A).Objective 2.2To continue the phased renovation of the integrated research and extension building, including the retrofitting of its second floor, and the renovation of additional space (e.g.Building E) in support of research programming.Objective 2.3To continue efforts related to the construction of a new science facility (e.g. adjacent to the University's science building) for the future growth and conduct of 1890 Research activities and research education.Goal 3:Develop new and enhance existing physical infrastructure in support of the University's Extension Service, including 4-H and Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and the Center for the Advancement of STEM education (CASTEM).Objective 3.1To continue the phased renovation of the integrated research and extension building (e.g.IREB 2ndfloor;Building E) in support of extension services, instruction and associated programing.Objective 3.2To begin rehabilitating and renovating an existing facility (e.g.Building C) with the purpose of centralizing all the University's extension units and in an effort to better integrate and synergize existing extension, newly developed teaching, and key research programming.Objective 3.3To support physical infrastructure of existing buildings for efficient delivery of Extension and CASTEM programming on and off campus.
Project Methods
Objective 1.1To continue implementing site improvements and infrastructure development (e.g. utilities, parking and landscape) of existing and future properties and facilities.Continuing the facilities infrastructure improvements of the newly established Food and Agricultural Complex which is inclusive of the University's Agricultural and Environmental Research Station, Integrated Research and Extension Building and the planned home of the future School of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources is one of the chief endeavors comprised during this five-year plan of work. Site improvement tasks are diverse and include undertakings such as the further development of utility infrastructure (e.g. sewer lines, storm water drains, electrical and network grids, land/soil conditioning, parking and walkways, landscape, etc.).Objective 1.2To renovate, improve and condition buildings acquired through this program for administrative and programing space.There are three existing buildings (Buildings A, C, and E - Figure 2) situated at the Food and Agricultural Complex, which are targeted for renovation, conditioning and improvement. Some of the space that is planned to be developed, especially that space developed in Building C, will be devoted to supporting overall administrative functions of the 1890 tripartite land-grant programs. More specifically, these functions include offices for the administration of the Extension programs as well as faculty and administration of the future School of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources.The work planned within this five-year cycle, in relation to Building C (future home of the WVSU Extension Service headquarters and the upcoming School of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources), comprises building stabilization and initial façade improvements (See Figure 2). A&E services will be procured to assist the University initial design, building stabilization efforts and a façade improvement. These efforts are scheduled to be carried out on the first (façade improvement) and third year of this five-year cycle.Additional work will continue throughout the following years as supplementary funding is identified.The historical significance of Building C (former first WV School for the Deaf and Blind), presents an ability to apply for funding opportunities associated with the rehabilitation of historical buildings.Objective 2.1To continue efforts to restructure and enhance the Agricultural and Environmental Research Station, including enhancement and expansion of the recently added greenhouse complex and renovation of additional space (e.g.Building A).During this 5 year cycle the initial stages of site conditioning and renovation work will be initiated for a structure (Building A) attached to the new greenhouse complex.This structure is approximately 15,000 square ft in size and will ultimately contain offices for research and teaching faculty, as well as 3 laboratories for agricultural research and teaching purposes. We anticipate a phased renovation of this building, conducting initial conditioning work (e.g. utilities installation) and partial renovation of the space during this 5 yr cycle.A&E services will be hired to assemble building specifications in relation to this complex, along with all other required site improvements (e.g. drainage and storm water systems).A selected contractor will coordinate the placement of the additional greenhouse bays and headhouse and will work in conjunction with a selected greenhouse vendor to align with the construction specifications required for this expansion.Objective 2.2To continue the phased renovation of the integrated research and extension building, including the retrofitting of its second floor, and the renovation of additional space (e.g.Building E) in support of research programming.As also described inObjective 1.2,Building Eis planned to be renovated to provide additional support to the University's Land-grant programs. Further site improvements needed for the functionality of this structure will be explored and additional work will continue throughout the following years, as supplementary funding is identified.Objective 2.3To continue efforts related to the construction of a new science facility (e.g. adjacent to the University's science building) for the future growth and conduct of 1890 Research activities and research education.Research space at the science building (Hamblin Hall), where most of our faculty appointees perform their research and teaching activities, has been completely exhausted. To that fact, WVSU will continue efforts to construct a new science facility to support its food, agriculture and human sciences. Since this endeavor will require more funding than what is currently available, only initial stages of this project are planned to carry out during this five-year cycle. While this facility is being planned, the recent renovation and establishment of the Integrated Research and Extension Building, at the new research station site, is providing space for the most immediate research needs. A rendering of the new anticipated Science Building was developed for the purpose of seeking additional funding with other state and federal agencies and private support. More detailed analysis and designs in relation to this facility, including a more accurate estimation of its costs, will be conducted with future selected architects and engineers to determine the level of effort required in the completion of this facility.Figure 4provides a depiction of this proposed facility in terms of its campus location, dimension and architectural appearance.Objective 3.1To continue the phased renovation of the integrated research and extension building (e.g.IREB 2ndfloor;Building E) in support of extension services, instruction and associated programing.Resources from this five-year plan will be invested, in A&E services to begin renovation planning of this available space to accommodate additional Extension programmatic needs.Objective 3.2To begin rehabilitating and renovating an existing facility (e.g.Building C) with the purpose of centralizing all the University's extension units and in an effort to better integrate and synergize existing extension, newly developed teaching, and key research programming.As stated in Objectives 1.1 and 1.2, one of the major endeavors planned within this five-year cycle is improvements to the planned home of the future School of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources which will include the headquarters for the WVSU Extension Service. This endeavor includes the full façade improvements inclusive of brick refinishing and repair to wooden components. This work is scheduled to be carried out in the first year of this five-year cycle. Further work will be necessary and will continue throughout the five-year period of the award, and as additional funding is identified.All scheduled site improvements will be taking place at this site which will address and benefit this particular building. Site improvements include the placement of required utilities, road and accessibility improvement, additional parking, and landscape.Objective 3.3To support physical infrastructure of existing buildings for efficient delivery of Extension and CASTEM programming on and off campus.Existing facilities, as well as those other anticipated facilities to be acquired (located on and off-campus) which are utilized for the delivery of extension programs often require certain level of support. Therefore, funding will be devoted for the optimal operation of these facilities to address emerging and pressing needs. Typical tasks performed in these facilities are minor renovations, furnishing of equipment, and emergency expenses for engineering systems. A&E services and general contracting are procured on an as-needed basis.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Faculty, Students, Staff, and University Stakeholders participated in 1890 Research and Extension programming at West Virginia State University. Changes/Problems:A recurring challenge has been the timeline for approvals. When the project manager began overseeing the projects in February 2024, they developed templates to streamline the process and ensure compliance with the 45-day prior approval window. However, it took several months to receive clarification on the approval process. The first prior approval for this project was submitted on August 2, 2024, and approval was not received until February 11, 2025, resulting in a 126-day approval window--significantly longer than anticipated. This delay has impacted project timelines and underscores the need for continued process improvements to expedite approvals. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As part of this project, the project manager has gained valuable experience in understanding the foundational principles and operational processes of the 1890 Facilities Program.Additionally, the project has provided professional development opportunities in procurement training, where the project manager (PM) received one-on-one guidance from a local WV procurement specialist, gaining firsthand knowledge of the bidding process in the stateand the procedural requirements for vendor selection. Direct coaching also improved vendor management skills, as the PM gained important insights for developing and managing relationships with vendors. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of this project have been disseminated through targeted community engagement and institutional reporting. Following the initial phase of construction of the Stinger Produce Market, which was funded by Huntington Bank, a soft opening was held that allowed Huntington Bank stakeholders and community members to tour the facility, view the finalized floor plan, and assess the internal infrastructure. In addition, the WVSU Board of Governors is kept informed through weekly updates on the project's status, ensuring transparency and alignment with institutional priorities while fostering broad community engagement. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Several key activities are planned for the next reporting period to advance project goals. Under Goal 1, market research for the Stinger Produce Market construction and utility installation will be completed. A mechanical engineer will be hired to develop a design for the HVAC system. Once this design is finalized, the project will be ready for bidding through WVoasis, with two separate bids to be posted--one for internal infrastructure and utilities and another for the parking lot. Under Goal 2, market research for the phased renovation of Building A will be completed, along with an assessment of potential additional funding sources and establishing a project timeline. Additional quotes for Architectural & Engineering (A&E) services will be procured for the AES Headhouse, followed by selecting an A&E vendor to move the project forward. Under Goal 3, an analysis of existing buildings and an assessment of needs will be conducted to determine the focus area for the WVSU Extension Service. This assessment will help prioritize facility improvements and ensure the extension services have the necessary infrastructure to support their programming effectively.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1: Support Infrastructure Development for Agricultural Research, Teaching, and Extension Programs Objective 1.1: The utility infrastructure at Stinger Produce Market was initiated with the installation of electricity at the facility. Additionally, the parking lot has been designed and is currently under further review. Objective 1.2: Significant progress has been made in determining the floor plan and internal infrastructure for the facility. The finalized layout includes designated areas such as a demonstration kitchen, office space, cold storage, a checkout counter, a WV products wall, and essential infrastructure, including a three-bay sink, dishwashers, and restroom facilities. Goal 2: Development and Enhancement of Agricultural Research Infrastructure Objective 2.1:Market research was conducted for the planned phased renovation of Building A. A local architectural firm submitted a cost estimate to assess the funding required for completion. The project is currently under further review to determine the best approach for phased implementation. Objective 2.1:The AES Headhouse project is in the market research phase. A local architect submitted a cost estimate, and it was determined that additional quotes are needed to proceed effectively.

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