Over the summer, the department of facilities management mostly focused on two subjects: the older residence halls and research buildings.
“We’ve done a refresh to spaces and moderate overhaul to the building systems and automated controls including chillers, cooling towers, and elevators through contracted work, and replacing plumbing and mechanical parts, air handling belts and filters, and pest control through building maintenance,” said Jerry Guerrier, associate vice chancellor of facilities management.
Nine of the university’s 13 residence halls were part of this effort, including Annie Day Shepard, Rush, Ruffin, Eagleson, Eagle Landing, Martha Street, New Residence Hall 2, Chidley North and Debra Saunders-White.
The summer housing improvement project was, in fact, one of the most extensive in university history. Some details of the key improvements described by Guerrier include:
- Remodeling 28 bathrooms in Ruffin Residence Hall
- Modifying and repairing window units and HVAC systems in every building
- Replacing failed Wi-Fi access points to enhance connectivity
- Repairing plumbing and showers across multiple halls
- Replacing appliances in 35% of units
- Painting walls and ceilings in all rooms
- Performing floor care in every residence hall
- Replacing 30% of furniture and mattresses, with an additional 45% repaired
- Upgrading fire alarm systems in all buildings and repairing fire suppression systems in five buildings
- Continuing elevator repairs and inspections
- Spraying all residence halls for pests, with fogging completed in several buildings
The work done aligns with the second goal of the university’s recently completed strategic plan, “Soaring to New Heights: Vision 2030.” That goal includes “prioritizing the enhancement of housing, athletics, recreational, instructional and research facilities.”
This is just the beginning of bringing every aspect of the residential experience to the highest standard, as improvements will continue to be made throughout the academic year.
Those who see a lot of work on campus should know two things.
First, a large number of the buildings on the campus of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) are old with systems and infrastructure that exceed their life span. Those structures were built when NCCU (then named the “National Religious Training School and Chautauqua for the Colored Race”) was founded in 1910 through a pre-WWII building boom.
“The plumbing, heating and chilling towers – we can’t get parts for some of these (older) systems,” said Guerrier. “Then we upgrade them with new components and systems.”
Replacement, upgrades and renovations, however, can take time. Most projects can take two years to complete.
For example, there is a major project to keep the campus steam plant working until it can be replaced with more energy efficient options – hot water or natural gas systems – to cool and heat buildings.
“The steam plant is at least 50 years old,” said Guerrier.
The second thing to understand is that a number of projects were put on hold during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic due to supply chain issues and the rising costs of materials and labor.
“We tabled them until the market settled in late 2023,” Guerrier said.
For those who are curious, new construction on campus is largely contracted out for design and construction, although it is overseen by NCCU project managers.
Operations (repairs, maintenance) are more of a mix, with an estimated 65% conducted by NCCU staff.
Project Updates
In Design:
- Renovating Dent Human Sciences Building.
- Renovating Edmonds Classroom Building.
- Overhauling the University Theater in Farrison-Newton Communications Building.
- HVAC and Building Automation Systems renovation at Albert L. Turner Law School Building, L.T. Walker Physical Education and Recreation Complex and H.M. Michaux Jr. School of Education Building.
- Interior, building systems and envelop renovations for the Lee Biology and Taylor Education buildings.
- Designer advertisement for upgrading building systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, etc.) at BRITE and Mary Townes.
Work in progress:
- A new ramp in the James E. Shepard Library Bowl is being installed. The old one had been impacted by tree roots. In progress as of early September.
- The Collaborative Learning and Research Center on the northwest corner of Fayetteville Street and Lawson Street is expected to be finished by the end of September. In early August, utilities, including a stormwater line, were connected.
- A new radio station plus teaching space is expected to be completed in Farrison-Newton by the end of September.
Completed:
- New concrete pad at the William Jones Building was installed to make the lower level more accessible to people with disabilities.