President Lefton reviews the progress of the project.

The remaining improvements to Risman Plaza are being completed just as students, faculty and staff return to campus. The construction is part of the university's campuswide $200 million renovation plan, and is expected to be fully complete by Homecoming.

Earlier this summer, the university completed construction of the new transit shelter that replaced the old bus stop. The new shelter is designed so that the structure is more open, with lots of light and multiple points of entry and exit.

Additionally, the seat walls and raised planters have been installed on the plaza. The majority of paving and brick work has also been completed. Trees have been planted around the seating areas and the Kent Student Center.

Other developments to Risman Plaza include the burial of the Centennial time capsule and the addition of a new sculpture. Jarrett Hawkins' sculpture, The Limits of Spoken Language: Congeries, is located near the Library's newly renovated entrance.

The remaining construction will be limited to the more nonpublic areas of Risman Plaza, so the plaza will be open to student traffic now that classes have begun.

Construction continues on the new fountain.

Graduate student Rebecca Kapler says she is excited about how the Risman Plaza construction is coming together. "I worked in the Kent Student Center all summer and could see the different stages of construction," she says. "It looks really nice, and I think students will like how there's more open space to sit and enjoy the plaza."

View the plaza through the webcam.

By Katie Young