Construction has begun on the U of A's new Senior Walk exhibit, which will feature pieces of the original first 50 years that were removed from Old Main Plaza earlier this year.

The permanent exhibit is set to be completed in August and will be displayed on the ground level of Old Main.

The original first 50 years of Senior Walk were replaced earlier this year due to increased levels of deterioration and safety concerns caused from the uneven and crumbling walk. During the work, sections of the walk were saved and stored with the intention of creating the permanent exhibit to highlight the history and tradition of Senior Walk.

The new exhibit will feature sections of the original Senior Walk that had been removed during the renovation of Old Main Plaza last year. Pieces of the various years will be mounted on the ground floor hallway along with the original year numbering. Reinforced steel with be used to mount the pieces, the largest of which weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 lbs.

"The new Senior Walk exhibit is a great example of honoring campus traditions while maintaining a safe environment," said Scott Turley, associate vice chancellor for facilities. "While the decision to replace the first 50 years was not an easy one, with input from a wide list of stakeholders, doing so allowed us to preserve the pieces for future generations and create a permanent space to commemorate the Senior Walk tradition."

Construction is tentatively scheduled to be completed by mid-August. Members of the public will be invited to view the completed exhibit during Come As You Arkansas on Sept. 10.

About Senior Walk

Senior Walk began with the class of 1905 after they added their names by hand to wet concrete in front of Old Main. Each graduating class since has had their names engraved in the walk.

Although originally added by hand, the growing class size required an alternative process to maintain the tradition. In 1986, Facilities Management employees, previously called the Physical Plant, invented the Sand Hog specifically to etch the names. Today there are more than 200,000 graduates listed on Senior Walk.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.