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BOV discusses buildings and Grounds improvements
Building and Grounds Committee hears plans for new Alderman dorms, approves air conditioning upgrades
The Board of Visitors Wednesday approved plans to improve air conditioning of buildings on Grounds and discussed the construction and renovation of dorms.
The Board approved designs for a Newcomb road chiller plant and the North Grounds Mechanical Plant, both of which will improve the efficiency and sustainability of air-conditioning in buildings around Grounds, University Chief Facilities Officer Don Sundgren said.
“If you were to lose air conditioning in a building with a standalone system, you lose air conditioning,” Sundgren said. “With central, if you lose air conditioning, you can offset it to another chiller. I think it’s a much better solution. It leads to cost reduction and less pollution.”
The Board also considered future plans to upgrade the McCormick Road dorms during the presentation from Rick Kovatch, associate vice president for Business Operations for the University.
“[We want] to try to bring air conditioning [into these dorms] and upgrade all of their building systems,” Kovatch said. “We’re getting ready to hire consultants and engineers and architects to renovate these residence halls. Also, we can try to claim some of the space used by the housing and residence spaces.”
In addition, University Architect David Neuman proposed plans for the construction of a new dormitory to replace Dunnington, which should open in fall of 2015. The design would be similar to other new dorms such as Kellogg.
The new building will be followed by two others, which will replace the other old dormitory buildings on Alderman Road, Neuman said.
Neuman is currently working with housing clients to create a budget for the project, and they will report to the Board with their final design in February.
Neuman also discussed proposals for the Rotunda, including opening the main doors on the Lawn for visitors to enter, which would cost $10,000.
