Point Loma Nazarene University's campus in San Diego will soon be under construction.

In July, the university, which moved from Pasadena to its 90-acre, ocean-front property in 1973, began preparations for three simultaneous projects aimed at improving its service to students and the community.

The three construction projects are a 17,200-square-foot administration building; a new 15,000-square-foot building for the department of Accounting, Business and Economics; and a 17,000-square-foot residence hall addition. The construction timetable is projected through fall 2004.

None of the construction is for the purpose of an expanded enrollment. PLNU is mandated by the city of San Diego to cap its undergraduate student body on the Point Loma campus. The university easily reaches the limit equivalent of 2,000 full-time undergraduate students each year. (Its graduate programs, headquartered at PLNU Mission Valley, have no restrictions and are expanding rapidly.)

A new administration building

Point Loma's distinctive Mieras Hall has served for years as the university's administration building. The elegant building with the outdoor circular staircase and the purple ball on top was built in 1902 by Albert Spalding of Spalding sporting-goods fame. But the small structure did not have room to house admissions and financial services for students. For many years, these and other administrative offices have been stuck in "temporary" office modules or trailers.

The new $4.2 million, two-story, woodframe and metal administration building will be built on what is now the parking lot at Mieras Hall near the school's entrance. Mieras will continue to be used by PLNU President Bob Brower and a few other administrators.

Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson of Point Loma is the architect. Bill Ferguson is the project manager.

Department of Accountancy, Business and Economics

Since the university moved to San Diego, the academic Department of Accountancy, Business and Economics has been housed in the north side of Rohr Hall, a pre-existing structure from the days the campus was occupied by California Western University.

The $4.5 million structure being built for the Department of Accountancy, Business and Economics at Point Loma Nazarene University will include classrooms and networking options for students as well as faculty offices.

Advances in technology crucial to the success of PLNU business majors have made the facilities thoroughly out of date. Business is PLNU's largest major.

The new $4.5 million structure will provide state-of-the-art classrooms and networking options for students, as well as offices for the department's faculty. Plans call for the north side of Rohr Hall to be razed (the south side houses the Religion and Philosophy Department).

The new wood-frame building will extend over the existing lawn and parking lot, with an ocean-view lanai for receptions and group meetings available for community use. An underground parking structure will be constructed.

Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson is also the architect for this project.

An expansion of Nease Residence Hall

As a residential university, Point Loma is home to approximately 1,550 residential students during the academic year. PLNU emphasizes community-building among its students and requires that freshmen live on campus.

A $3.5 million, 17,000-square-foot, wood-frame addition to the existing 300-bed Nease Hall on the north end of campus will add housing for almost 100 students.

Milo Architecture Group was responsible for the architectural design.

Construction impacts

Three simultaneous construction projects on one campus is a major undertaking. PLNU wanted to minimize inconvenience by keeping the construction to as short a period as possible. Doing all three projects at once also keeps the costs down.

PLNU's construction plans also necessitated the removal of several Torrey pine trees that have graced the area for more than 80 years. Every effort was made to save as many as possible. In the administration building area, three 75-foot trees remained untouched.

Eight smaller Torrey pines from other areas were transplanted or boxed for later use in landscape design. Each four-foot-square boxing costs a minimum of $1,200, but the university considered it an environmentally responsible cost.

Six thousand board feet of the downed Torrey pines were donated to Palomar College for its woodworking program. Large structural pieces were sent to the San Diego Zoo for use in the panda, bird and primate exhibits. Woodchips were used on campus, and even pinecones were collected as treats for birds.

PLNU's growth

Point Loma Nazarene University's most recent undertaking was the renovation of a 52,000-square-foot building at 4007 Camino Del Rio S., purchased from National University to house PLNU's expanding graduate studies programs. The university offers graduate degrees in education, business and nursing.

The 30-year-old, four-story stucco and wood shake clad structure included a new standing-seam metal roof, new architectural accents and a new stucco finish. Kyle Stephens of Milo Architecture Group was the project manager.

Other recent construction projects at Point Loma Nazarene University include Nicholson Commons, the three-story student center in the heart of the campus. Completed five years ago, Nicholson houses a book store, health center, cafeteria, café, student lounges, meeting rooms and student development offices.

The $7.9 million Cooper Music Center was dedicated in the fall of 1995. It is home to PLNU's music department and features the well-known Crill Performance Hall.

Palmer is a writer and editor at Point Loma Nazarene University.