A widely used campus walkway has reopened to pedestrians as UC Riverside’s new instructional building project draws closer to completion.

The sidewalk at the north side of campus, running along the Amy Harrison Athletic Field and UCR Soccer Stadium, had been closed since mid-December as part of construction for the Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Facility, or UTLF.

The sidewalk reopened Feb. 9 and will stay open through the rest of construction, which is expected to be completed this summer for a fall opening, said Sarah Sabera-Turab, senior project manager with Planning, Design and Construction.

The new walkway significantly improves the accessibility of the pathway, she said. 

The UTLF, a 100,700-square-foot building with a seating capacity of approximately 1,700, will provide classroom, laboratory, and studio space. It includes two lecture halls, 19 mid- to small-sized classrooms, six biology labs, four chemistry labs, and a dance studio with an outdoor performance area. 

When completed, the north promenade of the building will include trees, shrubs, concrete seat walls, outdoor furniture, a bike rack, a skateboard/scooter rack, and a sloped ramp that connects to Canyon Crest Drive.

Construction crews have been working on the final elements of the building, installing extensive clear glass, yellow sheathing, and the brick exterior. Subcontractors are also installing interior elements including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing features.