Current Projects
Summer 2007 Project Update
Projects After Summer
Summer 2007 Project Update
This summer has been another busy and productive building season for Facilities Management and its contractors. Below is a brief description of some of the more visible work that transpired on campus since May and a few highlights about upcoming work.
New Residence Hall
In November 2006, Mount Holyoke College began construction on its first new residence hall in 40 years. This still unnamed residence hall will encompass 72,000 SF, accomodate176-beds, and be environmentally friendly (will attain LEED Silver Certification). Underground utilities, concrete foundations, block walls and precast concrete floor planks have now been installed. Much of the plumbing, electrical and other “rough-ins” are well underway. Roof trusses and metal decking is ongoing as well as the installation brick veneer. The building’s outward appearance should significantly develop over this fall semester. The building will be completed summer 08 and accommodate students that fall.
Athletic Fields
Another major and highly visible project on the campus this summer has been the new track and field complex. It includes a new synthetic turf field, which will be used primarily by the field hockey, lacrosse and soccer teams, and a new state-of-the-art eight-lane oval track with ten lane straight-aways, bleachers and press box. We have also added lighting for the new synthetic turf and existing natural grass soccer fields. In the location of the former track, a new natural grass rugby field has been created. Men’s and women’s toilet facilities have been added in the athletic fields storage barn for the convenience of both athletes and spectators. This project is about 98% complete with finishing touches happening now including track lane markings, rugby field sod, testing of lights, sound system, etc…
Prospect Bathrooms – Elevator - Lighting
Improvements were made to Prospect Hall over the summer. Most of the work occurred within the bathroom facilities including new shower and drying areas, piping, plumbing fixtures, toilet partitions and a hot water system upgrade. The exhaust ventilation system has also been enhanced with an energy recovery unit which captures heat from outgoing exhaust air. An individual fully accessible (ADA) bathroom was added to each floor. Other improvements include: lighting in student rooms and corridors, a new laundry room & kitchenette on the ground floor, a new elevator and wireless capability through out the building.
Ciruti - Russian/Asian Studies
This project consolidated the German, Russian & Eurasian Studies Offices and created a new office space for the Asian Studies department. Renovations also included lighting enhancements and an expansion of the lobby area to improve circulation.
Dwight – Corridor Project
We have reconfigured Dwight Hall’s south wing middle level to now contain The MEWS: Mediated Educational Work Space. The MEWS is anticipated to be a casual, yet supportive atmosphere that LITS hopes will foster energy and creativity. This spacious area now includes a 16 seat multi-media hands-on teaching space with 2 wall mounted plasma displays; a staffed Digitization Center and a Faculty Development Area. Additionally, there are two collaborative rooms equipped with computers and a large format display enabling groups of 6-8 to work on projects and edit collaboratively and dynamically. To support multi-media projects digital video cameras, digital still cameras, tripods and other equipment are available to check out from Media Resources.
Gateway Road
Gateway Road (from Park St. south to the Art Building Bridge) was reconfigured over the summer to provide a pedestrian walkway enhancing safety. Other improvements in this reconstruction included storm drainage work, lighting, granite curbs and handrails. Head-in parking was reconfigured to allow space for the new pedestrian sidewalk. Parking has been provided for handicapped and service vehicles as well as short term/delivery drop off areas. The College has also coordinated with the Town of South Hadley on the paving of Park Street and Church Street from Route 116 east to the Equestrian Center driveway. As part of this project the Town reconfigured parking on the south side of Church Street to a diagonal head-in approach which netted twelve additional spaces.
Amphitheater – Sprinkler System
Each year at Convocation and Commencement, the Mount Holyoke community enjoys Gettell Amphitheater’s unique grass seating. Although beautiful, this facility is quite labor intensive. To keep the amphitheater looking its best through out the year and reduce labor hours, FM’s Grounds crew installed an automated irrigation system. Due to the constraints of the radius seating layout, all trenches required hand excavation.
Mary Lyon – North Stair Balustrade
Facilities Management carpenters skillfully restored Mary Lyon’s north stair hand rail and balustrade to bring it up to current building codes and safety requirements. This section of stair was reconfigured in 1962 leaving an unsafe and continuous opening below its hand rail. FM took this opportunity to restore the stairs railing and balustrade to its traditional (period appropriate) appearance.
Blanchard Skating Rink
Mount Holyoke College was fortunate last year to experience an extended cold snap in February which allowed us to skate on Lower Lake. We have now leveled the grass area adjacent to Blanchard’s “lantern” fireplace and seat wall which will allow FM to quickly create an ice-skating area for the college community closer to Blanchard and its amenities. This new flatter area will also enable us to install shallower uniform ice which will freeze more quickly.
Equestrian Center Roof
This summer we replaced the asphalt roofing shingles over 100% of the Equestrian Center roof. This project also included replacement of any deteriorate plywood sheathing beneath and structural reinforcement of all wooden roof truss bearing connections.
Reese - New Curriculum Library
At Reese’s lowest level we eliminated twelve small rooms and created two larger spaces. One of these spaces is to be used as a mediated classroom and the other a curriculum library (Rooms 110 & 111). Holes were also punched through the concrete foundation wall creating three new windows for natural light.
Reese - Room 222 to Computer Lab
Room 222 has been reconfigured to accommodate space for twelve computer work stations and four flexible meeting tables. The tables can be used as one large table or rearranged to accommodate the needs of any group.
Mary Lyon - Data Infrastructure – to CAT6
The upgrade of Mary Lyon’s data infrastructure has been completed. While in the process, FM took the opportunity to sort through and remove all obsolete wiring that had accumulated through out the years.
Wireless Capability
Wireless infrastructure has been installed in a number of residence halls. This project will continue until all halls have been updated. The following is a list of halls which need to be completed: Buckland, Dickinson, Torrey, Mandells, Rockys and Pearsons.
Honorable Mentions
Other miscellaneous projects which occurred this summer include: Steam line installation and repairs, paving, roofing projects, site lighting, faculty start-ups, classroom/Lab upgrades, re-grout dive tank, re-carpet Chapin Auditorium Balcony, Equestrian Center Turnout Paddocks, emergency generator at Dickinson Hall.
Projects After Summer
Campus Trees
This summer various tree work was completed including high canopy pruning, root pruning and air spading as well as removal of three dying and dangerous trees. We are concerned about the two trees west of Wilder Hall. Although we have taken some remedial measures (cabling and high pruning) to extend the life of these failing trees, we’ll have to keep our eye on them in future years.
Also, tree and shrub removal in proximity to College dams has been ordered by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Dam Safety. They are concerned about tree blow-overs during high wind events which would dislodge the tree’s root-ball weakening the earthen berm. This work will visually impact Lower Lake Dam more significantly; however some tree work is required at the Upper Dam as well. The Conservation Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection have given approval for this work to commence. Our plan is to begin work on this project later this year.
Kendall Lighting Retrofit
During J-tem the field house and racquetball courts lighting will be updated to more energy efficient lamps and fixtures. These new lighting fixtures will provide more light output while using less energy. Cost savings should pay for this installation within three years.
Kendall Exercise/Dance
Facilities Management hopes to begin additions and renovations to the Kendall Sports and Dance Complex as soon as this Fall. The existing dance practice studios will be relocated to a new addition on the south side of the building. The new addition will also include expansion of the existing lobby which will provide better entrance identity for the dance department and more queuing space for the evenings of dance performance events. The existing dance practice studios will then be renovated to provide new exercise and fitness workout (cardio machines, etc…) space with lots of natural light and glass wall providing views to and from the renovated main corridor.
Mary Lyon 1st Floor ADA Toilet Room
This J-Term we plan to renovate the small bathroom on the first floor of Mary Lyon Hall to provide a fully ADA compliant facility.
Willits Chiller (J-Term)
We will be replacing the 30+ year old chiller with the two year old chiller removed from Pratt Hall (Pratt was connected to the chilled water central distribution loop). The project also includes replacing the air handling equipment which serves all the common areas.
Boathouse
We expect to receive our Chapter 91 Permit from the Army Corps of Engineers any day. This would leave only the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval as the last hurdle. Our hope is that we will receive their approval this fall and would be to start construction shortly after (optimistically this fall, or more realistically spring 2008).
Safford Hall
Next year, summer of 2008, we will perform interior renovations at Safford Hall which will include: complete bathroom renovations, reconfiguration of the former dining area and kitchen, rewiring of the entire building, installation of a complete new fire sprinkler system, new heating system and temperature control upgrade and relocation of Residential Life Offices to lower level, etc…
Town Center Road Project & Crosswalks
Although we have a continued dialog with the Town of South Hadley, the Route 116 Town Center Road Project is under their control and we have minimal influence over its progress. However, it is the Town’s plan, and our hope, that the road paving, lighting, curbing and sidewalks will be completed this fall. We have also contracted with their Road Project Construction Group to install the five enhanced crosswalks on Route 116. This work must be coordinated with the road project work and our hope is that this project will be completed before the years end.
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