PROPOSAL FOR A CAPITAL BUDGET PROJECT
COMPUTER & SPACE SCIENCES BUILDING
EAST WING
INFRASTRUCTURE
RENEWAL
Background, Deficiencies
& Need
Process
Project Resource Plan
Elements
Asbestos Abatement
Demolition plan
Mechanical Systems, e.g. chiller, heat
exchange, piping, etc
Electrical Systems, e.g. UPS, generator,
panels, rewiring
Fourth Floor Roof
Transformer Room
Telecommunications/High Speed Data Links
Qualitative Improvement of Hallways &
Universal Areas
Staging
Cost Estimate
Lawrence R. Bleau, Space Physics
Timothy B. Falkinburg, Chair
Dr. Christopher A. Shuman, ESSIC
Dr. John D. Trasco, Astronomy
With Assists from:
Jack Baker, Facilities
O&M
Marlowe V. Leafty,
Facilities - Electrical
John I. Vucci,
Facilities – HVAC
Ed Hauprich, John Grey,
Phil Meske, Facilities - Campus Projects
Planning
This document provides a proposal to study, plan and renovate the infrastructure of the east wing of the Computer & Space Sciences Building (C&SS) in several stages. The University, by implementing this proposal, will save a by-in-large structurally sound building with rapidly deteriorating electrical/mechanical infrastructure that has outlived its useful life. A renewed facilities infrastructure in C&SS would enable the University and the College of Computer, Mathematical & Physical Sciences (CMPS) to:
· first and foremost, renew the building for at least another thirty years – at a fraction of the cost of a new building
· provide building systems that are much more efficient to maintain and run
· update the technological capabilities of the building
· retain and attract valuable high tech personnel resources
· compete more successfully for research grants for the programs located in the building
· support additional research activities
· improve the aesthetics of the facility
Renovating the east wing of the C&SS Building now should save this building – allowing successful integration with the Physical Sciences Complex proposed to be built in close proximity on lot DD. In fact, integrating the old C&SS Building with the new Physical Sciences Complex by using shared and more efficient mechanical systems, and by providing a physical connection between the buildings, will help to enhance the campus’s and CMPS’s high national ranking.
To do nothing will cause irreparable harm to the C&SS Building and to the scientific research activities located within the building. To do nothing does not address the prospective loss of valuable University human resources. To wait too much longer may necessitate replacement of the entire structure. To totally demolish this building and build a new structure probably is cost prohibitive to the campus.
This proposal is similar in nature to recently approved capital projects such as the Art-Sociology, Hornbake Library, Jimenez Hall, Symons Hall, and Woods Hall buildings.
Please see Appendix A for pictures of the C&SS Building and a few problem areas. Please see Appendix B for floor layouts of the east wing.
Housed in the east wing of the C&SS building and doing high level scientific research are elements of the Departments of Astronomy and Geology, the Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC), the Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST), and the Space Physics group. Current plans call for the construction of the Physical Sciences Complex and the relocation of Earth Sciences into a renovated Physics Building. However, CMPS anticipates a continued need for the east wing, and possibly the central wing of the C&SS Building.
The C&SS Building was designed and built in several stages. Much of the construction work for the east wing of the C&SS Building was performed in a time of restricted budgets with little concern for installing long lasting and environmentally sound infrastructure equipment and systems. Most of these systems are highly inefficient and don’t meet today’s environmental standards. See Appendix A for some examples of outdated equipment and deteriorating systems.
Numerous building problems are recorded with Facilities Work Control and the CMPS Dean’s Office about the C&SS Building, especially the east wing. Many of these problems are related to asbestos, cooling & heating, electrical, plumbing, and appearance. As an example, between January 1, 2000 and August 21, 2000, there were 150 reported hvac problems. Of these, over one half were connected with the East Wing.
The deteriorating infrastructure within the building inhibit normal work and research activities. The ability of various CMPS departments located in C&SS to foster the evolving nature of research in the building is severely hindered. The ability to attract and keep qualified researchers is hampered. The capability to maintain and increase the campus’s and CMPS’s high national ranking is severely restricted.
Structurally,
except for the east wing fourth floor roof, the C&SS building is
sound. However, mechanical systems
have outlived their normal lifetime cycle.
As in the Hornbake Library, the 23 year mechanical design life-cycle has
been exceeded. The electrical systems
were not designed for today’s Unix workstation/server world.
Asbestos
inhibits repair work throughout most of the floors, restricting normal
preventive maintenance and repairs of existing environmental systems on each
floor. This has led to further
deterioration of piping and other mechanical systems to the point that repairs
are no longer viable. To wait longer
to renovate could necessitate the demolition of the entire east wing of the
building.
Cosmetically,
the appearance of the building could be greatly improved. The building is depressing in appearance
with smooth green block hallways that cannot be painted properly. The restrooms are not ADA compliant. When visitors and prospective recruits –
faculty, staff and students – enter the
C&SS Building, the first reaction is usually negative.
This
project will afford the opportunity to install high speed data lines/links
throughout the east wing, which could ameliorate telecommunication inadequacies
and improve research capabilities.
The
reason renewal of the C&SS east wing is proposed rather than renewal for
the entire C&SS building or for another wing is as follows:
1.
the
level of problems and deterioration of the infrastructure in this wing exceeds
the other wings,
2.
costs
to renovate the entire C&SS building in one project may be prohibitive,
3.
mechanical
and electrical systems were previously upgraded and sized to handle several
floors of the C&SS west wing (old building) – primarily for OIT,
4.
the
projected emergence of the Physical Sciences Complex in parking Lot DD which
will replace the IPST building next to the eastern wing,
5.
the
need to reinvigorate all mechanical/electrical systems in the building after
35+ years,
6.
further
delay in infrastructure renovations may require complete “gutting” of the
facility or even total demolition and replacement of the building, and
7.
the
east wing is fully occupied by CMPS faculty and staff.
As part of Dean Haperin’s initiative to review all existing CMPS facilities—
a CMPS Facilities Task Force was formed by Associate Dean, Ron Lipsman to review present CMPS facilities and to recommend a comprehensive Facility Plan. This Task Force recommended a three prong attack for consolidating and obtaining new or renovated facilities for CMPS’s Physical Sciences, Computer Sciences and Earth Sciences. The first two of these have already been dealt with by the Campus, and corresponding items now appear on the Capital Budget. The third is addressed in a companion proposal.
During its activity, the Task Force also encountered an overwhelming theme: namely, the deteriorating facilities in which many CMPS units reside. The number one problem building mentioned was the C&SS Building. This proposal focuses on the rejuvenation of that building, especially its east wing.
Dr.
Lipsman directed Tim Falkinburg, CMPS Facilities Director, to form an Advisory
Committee concerning the C&SS building.
The following plan is the product of the Advisory Committee’s work,
aided by the advice of various Facilities personnel. See Appendix D for minutes of the Advisory Committee’s
activities.
The
proposed plan is envisioned as a multi step project.
The
first step is to initiate a study of the mechanical and electrical systems –
particularly the mechanical systems.
Excellent information was provided by the leaders of the Facilities
O&M, HVAC and Electrical units.
See Appendix C. This
consultation confirmed that the environmental systems are antiquated,
inefficient, deteriorating, inadequate and in many places patched. The mechanical systems are a hodge-podge of
different, inefficient, overlapping systems sometimes competing with each
other. The Advisory Committee concurs
with the O&M experts that the C&SS Building east wing’s existing
environmental systems need replacement and significant upgrades.
To
assist in a holistic review of all the mechanical/electrical systems in this
wing, the committee’s plan includes engaging an outside consultant, expert in
mechanical, electrical and piping systems.
The consultant will be requested to examine the existing systems,
detailing their specifications and indicating their condition. Then the consultant will be requested to
provide a report on what systems should be replaced, what systems can be kept
(if any) and how they will be best integrated with the new environmental
systems. In addition, advice from the
consultant on how renovations might be best staged to minimize disruptions and
maximize continued use of the building will be requested.
The
second step is to develop an overall Project Resource plan. Besides contractor materials and resources,
the plan must take into account the need to minimize disruptions to residents
in the east wing and the rest of the building. Some shut down of activities in the east wing will occur. The extent needs to be estimated and
minimized. Staging the renovations to
minimize disruptions should be a key element of the Project Resource Plan. This plan should be developed in combination
with our Facilities Planning, C&SS Advisory Committee and CMPS Facilities
staff working together with the consultant.
The
third step is to work with the architect/engineer designers to prepare the
various elements of the proposed renovations.
Elements include but are not limited to:
·
asbestos
abatement
·
demolition
·
mechanical
systems
·
electrical
systems
·
fourth
floor roof
·
transformer
room
·
telecommunications
and high speed data links
·
qualitative
improvements
The
actual renovation construction may need to be staged over two to three fiscal
years.
Asbestos Abatement: The advisory committee believes that this is not an
infrastructure issue. They strongly
believe that this activity should be immediately completed by the University
outside of this proposed project. It is
included only in the event that this activity is not completed prior to the
actual renovations of the project because little demolition or construction
work can be accomplished if asbestos ceiling tile, pipe covering, etc. remain
in the wing.
Mechanical System: Completely renewing mechanical systems is a priority. This includes all hvac, chillers, air
handlers, reheat, ducting, window units and piping systems. The recommendation from Facilities, with
which the Advisory Committee concurs, is to use the new C&SS SCUB for
heat/cooling exchange and pumping systems.
This approach should help to minimize disruptions to the residents of
the C&SS Building during installation, since the heavy activity should
occur outside of the east wing. This
SCUB approach should also handle and integrate with the Physical Sciences
Complex once that is constructed. Original programming of the CSS-SCUB provides
for shell space to add equipment to support this multiple building support
concept. Employing “first costs” in
utilizing the SCUB should provide the campus overall mechanical savings, efficiencies,
and future maintenance.
Electrical Systems: Upgrading electrical systems throughout the wing is important to
meet today’s research requirements.
This includes: major new electrical circuit panels in the transformer room,
new and upgraded circuit panels and PDU’s throughout the wing, new
UPS/batteries, new UPS wiring including UPS lines to computer and laboratories
as well as key offices, new generator and double feeds, and new lighting in
most labs and offices.
Fourth Floor Roof: The structural integrity of
the fourth floor roof needs to be studied.
Once the heavy pumps and steel grids are removed from the penthouse,
crack(s) in concrete ceilings where oil and water penetrate into the fourth
floor must be repaired.
Transformer Room: Weatherproof the current transformer room in the basement to
insure integrity of existing transformers and major building circuit breaker
panels.
Telecommunications/High
Speed Data Links: The need to upgrade the data
wiring (100 meg fiber) throughout the wing to the labs and offices in support of
present and proposed research is paramount.
Qualitative Hallways &
Universal Areas Improvement: Wallboard and paint all hallways, meeting and conference rooms; restroom
renewal to meet today’s standards – providing ADA compliance; and, enhance all
stairways with materials or paint in today’s styles will go a long way to
improve first appearances to new and prospective faculty and students. Replace or repair windows. Replace or install new custom screens in all
windows, particularly where none exist now.
Paint offices and labs as renovation work completes.
Final staging of the various tasks and activities will need to wait until after the consultant report and for renovation plans by the various mechanical, electrical and architectural designers. Nevertheless, a very rough staging proposal is as follows:
Year One Consultant study/report, project
planning, asbestos abatement, ceiling tile & light replacements,
weatherproof transformer room, and telecommunications upgrade
Year Two Demolition for mechanical, mechanical
system replacements, and repair fourth floor roof
Year Three Upgrade electrical systems and
qualitative architectural improvements
The
cost estimate provided below is essentially a “wag”. Facilities personnel were consulted and provided their best estimate. We have augmented these original “guesses”
to be on the conservative (high) side.
Inflation factors and various fees have not been taken into account.
Project Resource Planning
50k
Asbestos Abatement
1. Hallways
& open spaces, floors 1, 3, &4 replace tile and fixtures 150k
2. Offices
& labs, floors 0,1,3, 4 & part of basement 300k
3. Remove/replace
piping insulation 50k
Weatherproof Transformer room – ventilate &
repair water issues 50k
SUB-TOTAL 950k
1. New
chiller in C&SS SCUB, heat exchange & piping 1,000k
2. Demolish
pumps, chillers, piping in penthouse 100k
3. Repair
floor in penthouse 50k
4. Eliminate/demolish
all window units & piping 100k
5. Replace
corroded piping in wing 100k
6. Replace air handlers floors 1-4. 400k
7. Install variable air volume air side
distribution system
with variable speed drives- all remaining floors 150k
8. Controls
to ODC 150k
9. Replace
perimeter fan coil units with 4-pipe units 200k
10. New
duct work 100k SUB TOTAL 2,350K
1.
UPS/batteries
& generator connections, plus new feeds to
Floor closets 300k
2. Generator,
combine for entire C&SS building 500kw-1mw 300k
3. PDU
for all floors, 15k x 6 floors + hookups 100k
4. New
Electrical panels on each floor, 2k x 2each x 5floors 30k
5. Individual
sub stations, 5 x 30k 150k
6. Rewiring
existing & new wiring for UPS plus outlets 100k
1. Bathroom renovation, 20k x 2 x 5 floors 200k
2.
Wallboard
and paint all hallways, 70k x 6 floors 420k
3.
New
windows and screens 200k
4.
Paint
Offices and Labs 50k
SUB TOTAL 1,850K
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST 5,150K
Note: Above estimated costs do not reflect design, facilities, or
contingency fees, inflation, or if
necessary temporarily relocation of faculty and staff to a surge building.