Summer may be the time of year school slows down for many
of Eastern Michigan University students. But, it also is
an ideal time for the physical plant to make necessary
maintenance improvements and complete construction projects
on campus in preparation for another school year.
This summer was a busy one and included: furniture and
technology upgrades to campus classrooms; the re-opening
of McKenny Hall; replacement of elevators in two dormitories;
and various maintenance was performed to several classroom
and general campus buildings.
 |
WIRING SHERZER: Dave
Komorous (standing)
and Paul
Wallace install projector wiring
in a Sherzer Hall
classroom Aug.
31. The classroom is one of
more than
90 that will receive
projectors,
video projector
screens, speakers and interface
plates.
The work is part of a
$900,000 SMART classroom
technology
project taking place
on campus. Photo by Babsey Rambold
|
Projectors, video projector screens, speakers and interface
plates — which allows faculty and lecturers to interface
with their laptop — have been installed in
more than 90 classrooms in a dozen buildings as part of
a $900,000 SMART classroom technology project. Buildings
that will receive the equipment are Alexander, Briggs,
Ford, Mark Jefferson, Pray-Harrold, Quirk, Rackham, Roosevelt,
Sherzer, Sill, Strong and the sculptor studio near shipping
and receiving.
"We anticipate having 91 out of 123 classrooms completed
for the start of the semester, with work continuing during
September," said Scott Storrar, manager, facilities planning
and construction.
In addition, new furniture was added to classrooms in
Alexander, Ford, Mark Jefferson, Roosevelt, Quirk, Strong,
Warner and Owen (College of Business) this summer as part
of an ongoing $700,000 classroom upgrade project that commenced
in 2006. New furnishings include tablet armchairs, chairs,
mobile tables and carts.
I think the new technology and new furnishings in the
classrooms will help support the academic mission," Storrar
said.
Some improvements to aid classroom learning were of the
low-tech variety.
For example, the distilled water system, located in the
penthouse of Mark Jefferson, was replaced at a cost of
$49,700. The system is essentially a cylinder with condenser
controls that produces 50 gallons of distilled water per
hour. The distilled water is used on a daily basis in biology
and chemistry labs and classrooms.
In another instance, a new induction furnace was installed
in Sill Hall. Students use the furnace to melt cast iron
and other high melting-point alloys, Storrar said.
Comfort controls also were upgraded in Mark Jefferson,
Pray-Harrold and other classroom buildings. A chiller and
control upgrade took place in Pray-Harrold; two air handlers
were replaced in Quirk Hall; and a 100-ton, air-conditioning
compressor was replaced in Rackham Hall.
"These moves should improve occupancy comfort and indoor
air quality," Storrar said.
McKenny Hall Reopens
Phase I of the reopening of McKenny Hall took place in
August as Career Services and Human Resources made moves
to new offices. Career Services occupies renovated space
formerly used by the old bookstore and HR sits in space
previously used by Campus Life and the Eagle Card Office.
 |
CAREER ORIENTED: Career Services Acting
Director
Sarah Kersey Otto (above, center) provides
information about careers to incoming freshmen
Caroline Horste and Jeffery Bray, both of Waterford.
Bonnie Wethington, a customer assistant, handles
incoming calls. |
Career Services opened its doors Aug. 14 and HR was doing
business there as of Aug. 21.
The $4.7 million renovation, which commenced in November
2006, includes more than just new offices for Career Services
and HR. All new energy-efficient lighting was installed
in common areas; refurbishment and cleaning of some HVAC
units took place; and renovated areas received new finishes,
said Sean Braden, coordinator of construction projects
and project manager overseeing the McKenny Hall renovation.
Structurally, a number of improvements were made to the
outside of the building. This work included repair to an
outside sanitary main line; full replacement of the flat
roofing; flashing work on the pitched roof was done to
prevent water infiltration; and outside masonry work was
done around the dormers and the mortar joints were tuck-pointed
to make the structure sound, he said.
Key changes
Re-keying of AAUP faculty offices in Pray-Harrold and
Mark Jefferson has been ongoing since July. That project
will be finished by the start of the fall semester, Storrar
said.
Approximately 512 key cylinders will be replaced at a
cost of $100,000, said John Lamb, carpenter, lock shop
and paint foreman.
In addition, Storrar said exterior doors to all campus
buildings were re-keyed during the summer. New, electronic
card access readers for all "general fund" buildings and
auxiliary buildings, such as Dining Commons One, should
be in place for the start of fall semester, he said.
Steady ride
Elevators in Buell and Downing Halls were replaced during
the summer. The $618,000 project included replacement of
cabs, cylinders, controls, motors and relocation of the
elevator mechanical room, Storrar said.
The work continues upgrades to those two residence halls.
Last summer, Downing Hall underwent extensive renovations.
During summer 2005, Buell Hall received the renovation
treatment.
Sprucing up
While the bulk of improvements took place inside campus
buildings, efforts also went into sprucing up EMU's exterior
campus. More than 50 new trees, of varying species,
were planted on campus. At the same time, approximately
60 dead or dying trees, victims of Emerald Ash Borer disease,
were removed.
To help keep EMU's multitude of flowerbeds colorful, sprinklers
were added along the mall to increase watering coverage,
Storrar said. Irrigation lines near Phelps-Sellers also
were replaced.
 |
STEPPING IT UP: Existing
limestone steps
leading up to
Roosevelt Hall were replaced
this
summer. This photo is from
June, after the old
steps had
been excavated. |
The existing limestone steps leading up to Roosevelt Hall
were replaced as part of a $273,000 project that includes
replacing the tiered landings and waterproofing the electrical
room located under the top landing. This work should be
completed sometime in September, Storrar said.
Approximately $22,500 of the $45,000 sidewalk project
was spent to replace damaged areas of sidewalk and ADA
ramps located at Ann Street, Cornell Courts, Mayhew and
Oakwood.
Boone Hall and Building C of Cornell Courts were re-roofed.
Rynearson Stadium was waterproofed this summer in preparation
for a painting project next spring.
The outdoor volleyball court, located northwest of The
Lake House, was renovated.
An area used as a biology field study area, located off
of Golfside Road, was cleaned up, he said.
A new test-training program has begun for new custodians
and new temporaries who work the midnight shift.
"The primary goal is to add employee involvement in the
hiring of new employees and standardization of training," said
Dieter Otto, director of custodial, motor pool and grounds
services. "It should result in better efficiency and better
service."
Under the program, a new hire/temporary starts in Pray-Harrold
and learns safety and security measures, the use of personal
protective equipment and standard cleaning methods. Previously,
temporary staff were paired with a veteran but, because
the temps would work in different buildings, the result
would be cleaning methods that were not standard.
"The end result would be that the custodial staff would
be involved in evaluating the new hire, which would play
a huge part in whether they would be considered to be hired
in the future," said Diane Lynn-Veals, zone manager, custodial
and grounds.
Odds and ends
The Cooper Building underwent an $125,000 upgrade to its
HVAC system. The work included replacement of six rooftop
air conditioning units. Inside, lighting was replaced to
reduce overall heat gain in the building, Storrar said.
The Rynearson Stadium press box was built out to include
a new suite for the visiting athletic director during football
games. Cost of the project was $42,000.
Installation of new bleachers was recently completed at
Bowen Field House. The work is part of the approximate
$1 million in overall renovations made to the athletic
facility after a pipe burst and flooded the structure in
September 2006. The repairs were covered through a self-insurance
policy the University has on the facility.
Ongoing projects
 |
BUILDING CHECK: This summer, an architect
completed an evaluation of Pease Auditorium's
exterior facade. Bids for the project are due back
Sept. 7 and the work is expected to be complete
by June 2008. |
Pease Auditorium restoration is moving forward. During
the summer, an architect completed an evaluation of the
building's façade. The scope of the repair work
will include masonry repairs to the terra cotta, tuck-pointing
work, masonry cleaning, roof replacement, lentil repair
and replacement; and handrail replacement and main stairwell
repairs
Bids are due back on the project Sept. 7, with a project
completion date of June 2008, Storrar said.
"Pease will remain open when we start construction," Storrar
said. "The outdoor scaffolding will remain in place to
ensure safety to our patrons."
Requests for qualifications for a new Department of Public
Safety facility were completed Aug. 31. The new facility,
expected to cost approximately $2.6 million,
has an anticipated completion date of January or February
2009, Storrar said. The anticipated location for the building
is the green space located west of the existing Bowen parking
structure.
Parking and DPS are currently operating out of offices
in Bowen Field House.
