Many parts of the RPI campus got a much needed facelift this past summer. “Rensselaer and its facilities are experiencing the most significant period of growth and improvement in its history,” said Vice President of Administration Claude Rounds. This includes not only the new construction on the Center for Biotechnology and EMPAC, but also the upgrading of many existing facilities.
The most striking changes on campus are the renovations of Bray and Cary residence halls. A private contractor was brought in to do the majority of the work, with the Physical Plant doing some work on the electrical and mechanical areas and doing the interior painting and carpeting of the individual rooms.
One of the main challenges for this project was completing it in the span of the summer. The tight timetable was not, however, a great problem. According to Mark Frost, head of the Physical Plant, the key to completing this project was “very effective teamwork.”
Effective teamwork also played a key role in the repairs of the Stacwyck apartments. This summer a series of thunderstorms came through Troy which destroyed the roofs on McGiffert and Thompson houses.
An in-house staff effort concerted between the Physical Plant, Environmental Services, and Public Safety was brought in for the immediate job of making the buildings weathertight and the removal of some water. The initial response prevented excessive damage from the storms that followed.
Private contractors were brought in to complete the rest of the work, which included repairing the roofs and fixing the water damage inside the apartments. Lingering effects of the damage are expected to be apparent. By August 23, students were being moved back into the buildings.
Frost was very satisfied with the response to the incident. “As much as you don’t want to have storm events, when you do have them and you see your people pulling together, it’s encouraging,” he said.
Much of the work done throughout the summer has to be carefully scheduled so as to not interfere with the various conferences scheduled. This summer it was necessary to bring in private contractors to assist in getting the necessary interior maintenance completed.
Additionally, sprinkler systems were installed in Davison, Nugent, and in part of the RAHP. The bathrooms in Davison, Nugent, Hall, and North Halls were also remodeled.
Campus Planning and Facilities Design has improved the kitchenettes in the Colonie Apartments, and have replaced the windows in McGiffert. Also a new card reader system has been installed for access to all residence halls.
Handicap accessibility to both the Commons and the Residence Life Offices has been improved. Automatic door openers have been installed in strategic locations around campus.
The JEC ramp to the Greene Building has also been undergoing some maintenance. It has been resurfaced and the cement that has fallen away from the steel girders has been replaced to prevent further corrosion and preserve the integrity of the structure.
Above and beyond the major campus improvements the Physical Plant staff also performed maintenance in the residence halls, including work on the lighting around campus, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, the elevators, the electrical systems, and the fire safety systems.
One of the main goals of the Physical Plant is to keep all the systems up to date and in good repair. A lot of the fire alarms are being replaced to make the pull stations easier to use and the system more reliable as a whole to ensure fewer false alarms. The lighting on campus has been very aggressively maintained. This work is important because the safety of the students is a central theme of all the work done by the Physical Plant.
Also, preventive maintenance is a major part of the work done over the summer. This is done to avoid major breakages throughout the year. It’s “like changing oil in your car,” said Frost.
