Facilities
Management Projects Update
By John Bryant
While most of us were jet-setting around the country or lazing
in the summer sun, Facilities Management staff were hard at work
on projects and building designs.
Summer Projects 2005
Residence Hall Planning:
The Residence Hall Planning Committee spent the summer working
with our architectural firm, the S/L/A/M Collaborative, on a
schematic design and budget for the proposed new residence hall
for presentation
at the Board of Trustees meeting in October. The Board of Trustees
decided at the November meeting to continue
with this design process which they will again review at their
spring meeting. If the project is approved, it
will be the first new residence
hall
built
on Mount
Holyoke’s
campus in forty years. The 200-bed facility would be located
at the corner of Lower Lake Road and Morgan Street (Pratt parking
lot).
More information please visit Residential
Life online.
Summer Construction Projects:
Mandelles/1837 Renovations
The first floors in these two
residence halls have been renovated and reconfigured to convert
the unused
dining room and kitchen spaces to new student rooms, Golden Pears
(student kitchens), continental breakfast and game room/lounge
areas. These renovations are in keeping with an effort to provide
a greater variety in living and social space in all residence
halls. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant access
has been improved with new exterior ramps at each building main
entrance (also upgraded elevator and new wheelchair lift at 1837).
In addition, parking areas were slightly expanded and received
new pavement, storm drainage and lighting. High voltage electrical
distribution service to each building was upgraded as well as
steam supply to 1837. Rebuilding the 1837 retaining wall and
stairs will begin this coming spring.
Mandelle Bridge Repairs
At the Mandelles Footbridge,
crews addressed structural and technical problems caused by years
of
exposure to
the moist environment above Lower Lake Dam. Work included structural
repairs, replacement of utilities under the bridge, new lighting
and repaving. Precautions were discussed with the South Hadley
Conservation Commission and a large temporary wooden scaffolding
was constructed below the bridge to protect Lower Lake and StonyBrook.
Gazebo Relocation
The gazebo formerly located across from
Pratt Hall, (temporarily used by the Office of Admission), has
been removed
and is currently stored. It will be relocated to a spot on the
lakefront near Prospect Hall (“Prospect Beach”), which
has now received approval from the South Hadley Conservation Commission.
Earth & Environment Renovations
This project consisted
of a number of small improvements in Clapp Hall, which completes
a
three-year plan to improve Earth & Environment spaces.
Dwight HVAC Modification
The heating, ventilating and air conditioning
systems in Dwight Hall were never designed to handle the number
of people and machines that are currently in place. This project
will improve ventilation and temperature control on the upper floors
of Dwight. The project is currently in progress and will be completed
soon.
Skinner Hall Steps
At Skinner Hall’s back entrance
(facing the green), we have reconstructed the bluestone steps,
concrete structure beneath, limestone railings and balustrade and
the bronze handrail.
Frances Perkins House Retaining Wall
The retaining wall on the
south side of the Frances Perkins House (on Bridgeman Lane) has
been rebuilt.
Skinner Green Drainage
Several measures have been taken this
summer to improve the drainage on Skinner Green, including extending
the curb and slightly raising the sidewalk on the southwest corner
of the Green to direct storm water flow into catch basins; installation
of additional drainage structures and some regrading and adding
of topsoil in the smaller wet areas.
Replanting the lawn between Blanchard and Pratt
Extensive regrading
and the need to use soil erosion stabilization seeding have resulted
in a poor quality lawn. The existing lawn is being removed, the
topsoil improved and the lawn reseeded and watered during the early
fall to support good initial growth.
Consolidation of Card, Cable and Telephone Services Office
Modest
renovations were done in the Central Services building to consolidate
the space occupied by members of this department.
Torrey Elevator
One of the more technically challenging of the
summer construction projects was the replacement of Torrey Hall’s
sixty-year-old cable elevator with a state-of-the-art unit. Working
around the summer conference schedule, crews drilled a massive
hole in the existing elevator base in order to install the hydraulic
piston that operates the new unit.
Trees
We continued our work in removing dangerous and dying
trees on campus this summer. Our Botanic Garden staff carefully
assesses
the health of the trees on campus and, when necessary, consults
with an arborist in deciding whether a tree should be removed for
safety reasons or to protect the health of the surrounding trees.
The Botanic Garden staff maintains an inventory of each tree on
campus and has developed replacement plans for trees that are at
or near the end of their lives. The College is actively engaged
in tree replanting and we are committed to continued renewal of
our tree canopy.
Cell Tower
The Cingular cell towers have now been in place on
the library building for several months. T-Mobile
is in the process of completing the planning and permitting
needed to place their towers.
Chilled Water Loop
The hot days of summer have been the
ideal testing ground for the new campus-wide air-conditioning system.
Many campus buildings are now running on the centralized chilled-water
system, saving considerable amounts of electrical energy. This
system is energy efficient, good for the environment, cuts down
on noise, and is also cost efficient.
Other summer work included replacement of the emergency generator
in Mary Woolley Hall. Improvements were also made to some of the
off-campus student houses, and paving was done in a number of areas
around campus.
|
Awards