By Robyn Campbell
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Before the end of the fall semester, UH-Clear Lake students will vote on whether to raise student fees to support construction of the new Student Services Building.

The referendum is intended to gauge student support for additional fees needed to support tuition revenue bonds. The state legislature approved $30 million in tuition revenue bonds to fund the new building. A tuition revenue bond is essentially a loan that covers capital improvements and is paid for by future tuition fees.

If students reject the referendum, the building will be constructed but scaled down considerably.

"The cost and length of payment will be outlined in the referendum," said Steven Sutton, associate dean of students.

In 1990, a similar referendum was held and students agreed to a fee increase pending the state legislature's approval of funding for the building. It has been 10 years in the making, but the state approved the funding in June.

An official date for the referendum has not been set, but it will take place by the end of the semester, according to Sutton.

The architectural firm of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum has been selected to design the blueprints for the new building. Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum also designed Enron Field.

Here is how the process is working from now until ground is broken. Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum will send the building specifications to the Board of Regents for the UH System's approval. After approval, the architects will create blueprints and the Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board will read over the drawings. Authorization for release of the drawings will be announced at the next meeting, which is in three months.

Final drawings are then designed, and the ground breaking takes place. Building completion is scheduled for fall 2003 or 2004.

The new building will house academic office suites and classrooms. The final decision has yet to be made on what academic schools will be located inthe building.

"The new building will provide more multifunctional space," Sutton said.

In the meantime, to accommodate the growing student body, the school has purchased two large modular buildings. They will be located near Middlebrook by the soccer field, where the buildings can tap into water and sewer lines.

Some office and academic spaces will temporarily move into the buildings.

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