Summer Facilities Projects Under Way

The Superior Dome roof is being transformed from its original silver color to tan in the most visible of the summer facilities projects under way across campus. Workers from D.C. Taylor Co. of Iowa, which won the bid and has several dome projects to its credit, are scaling the sloped structure to install a new roof membrane over the existing one.

“They have a unique setup where they have a winching system mounted on the ground,” said Jim Thams (Engineering and Planning). “A cable runs from the winch up to a pulley system on the cupola (the house-like structure on top of the dome) that pulls a small cart that unrolls the membrane as it goes up the roof. It’s pretty impressive. The contractor has an aggressive schedule with completion set for Aug. 9, but that doesn’t allow for weather or any other unexpected delays, so we anticipate it will be later than that. Most of the work should be completed by the start of the fall semester.”

The $2.5 million Superior Dome project also includes a newly configured southeast entrance to allow snow to shed more easily and prevent roof damage.

According to Kathy Richards (Facilities), most of the work being done this summer addresses maintenance issues. Remaining projects on the schedule include:

▪ Jacobetti Center: Remove and replace the existing roof membrane to include the preparation of a 2,000-square-foot area for a future green vegetative roof. A second area is also being prepped to accommodate the installation of solar heat and electricity collectors for the alternative energy program. The budget is $1.5 million.

▪ Spalding Hall: Replace a more than 20-year-old rubber roof membrane at a cost of $120,000

▪ Performance contracting: Phase II work began in May to incorporate facility improvement measures. These include the conversion of several obsolete facility management systems to new Johnson Controls systems to increase energy efficiency in 10 buildings: Art and Design, Berry Events Center, Cohodas Hall, Hedgcock, the Learning Resources Center, New Science Facility, the Physical Education Instructional Facility, the Services Building, West Science and Whitman Hall. Additional improvement measures identified in Phase I will also be completed in the Jacobetti and University Centers. Phase II work is scheduled to be completed in September 2012 at a cost of $5.2 million.

▪ Marketplace: Replace floor covering and upgrade heating system, $100,000.

▪ Lincoln Street Apartments: Replace boilers and water heaters in 12 units, $84,000; also renovate five apartments, $87,000.

▪ WNMU-TV studio renovation: This $18,000 project, combined with a $633,000 Rural Utilities grant to cover the control room counter and equipment, will complete the final phase of the station's digital conversion. WNMU-TV will be equipped with high definition (HD) production capabilities. The work is scheduled to be completed in August and ready for use by WNMU-TV productions and CAPS classes by the beginning of the fall semester.