The reflection pond in front of Clemson University's RM Cooper Library was drained and cleaned on December 20 in preparation for construction.
The installation of the hoardings was completed on January 6th. Fences now surround the reflection pond and parking lots near the Watt Family Innovation Center and Cooper Library.
“Demolition of the existing walkways and walls will occur while accessing the area from inside the pond,” Taylor Purvis, Clemson planning, design and construction project manager, told The Tiger via email.
To facilitate pedestrian flow and create a more symmetrical pond, the southwest corner area of the pond will be filled in.
Once construction is complete, there will be, among other things, an “outdoor study room” and “study area” under the Cooper Library bridge, according to a Clemson News article.
The aim of the project is to improve accessibility around the pond and improve lighting along the pond path. Security cameras and new acorn lights will be installed on the west side of the pond “to brighten up the new and improved walkway,” Purvis told The Tiger.
“This project will make it easier for students, faculty and visitors to navigate the area and provide ramps and pathways that meet accessibility standards. Additional lighting increases safety and visibility in the evening hours,” according to a Greenville News article.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law in 1990, aims to end mistreatment of people with disabilities in public areas such as school, work, transportation and more.
Parking and sidewalks “adjacent to the RM Cooper Library” will be impacted until construction is completed in May 2025. Once the “majority of site work” is complete and weather permits, Purvis said the pond will be refilled in May. By then, replacement parking systems and sidewalks will be installed, according to the Greenville News.