University Times

The property and fa- cilities committee of the Board of Trustees has approved five renovation and construction projects totaling $10,269,000.

The committee is authorized to approve Pitt construction projects in excess of $1 million. The committee reports its actions to the trustees budget committee for the purpose of including the actions in the operating and capital budgets.

The projects approved by the property and facilities committee at its Nov. 1 meeting are:

* Salk Hall 4th floor pre-clinic simulation laboratories step 1 ($2,590,000) to be paid for from senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences restricted funds. The amount was included in the FY 2002 capital budget.

This project will convert existing bench-style teaching laboratories and support workrooms for pre-clinic dental students into more modern teaching laboratories that will include mannequins and electronic audio-visual presentations at each work station.

* Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) 8th floor adult inpatient unit restoration ($1,954,000), from line-item commonwealth appropriations capital funds. This renovation project will include the replacement of all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems on the 8th floor east and west wings of the main building.

* WPIC 12th floor geriatric services unit renovation ($2,158,800), also from line-item commonwealth appropriations capital funds. This project will expand by approximately 800 square feet the educational and research center wing, and will include replacement of all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

* Biomedical Science Tower chiller replacement project ($2,250,000), from senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences capital funds. This project will replace two 1,000-ton gas absorption chillers with one centrifugal 2,500-ton dual compressor machine. A new generator and boiler will be included to replace the emergency stand-by equipment.

* Johnstown campus Oak Hall renovation project step 1 ($1,317,000). Oak Hall is a two-story, 103-bed dormitory built in 1967. This project will renovate and replace building systems, as well as add sprinklers and replace fixtures, furniture and finishes. The funding was included in the FY 2002 capital budget and comes from the University's auxiliary debt. The source of annual operating costs including debt service is the Johnstown campus auxiliary enterprise funds.

q Ana Guzman, associate vice chancellor for Facilities Management, reported to the University Senate plant utilization and planning committee last month on Pitt's recently completed and active capital projects of more than $25,000. These include: Recently completed capital projects (total: $26,238,000)

* Classroom and auditorium renovations ($3,578,000), include: Bellefield Hall auditorium upgrades; Benedum Hall integrated curriculum classroom; Chevron Science Center Ashe Auditorium upgrade; Frick Fine Arts classrooms 202, 203, 204 renovation; Music Building classroom renovations, and Salk Hall new classroom/auditorium.

* Other programmatic renovations/construction ($8,945,000) Mervis Hall PNC Technology Center; Cathedral of Learning 17th floor renovations; Bellefield Hall swimming pool; Salk Hall Rite Aid Lab, and labs 519 (Dr. Billy Day lab), 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 639A, 704 706, 737; Stephen Foster Henry Heymann Theatre; Allen Hall ground floor Petek Laser lab; Hillman Library K. Leroy Irvis Archives, and 3343 Forbes Avenue 2nd and 3rd floor lab renovations.

* Preservation projects ($13,715,000) Roof replacement projects; exterior repair/upgrade projects (upper campus sidewalk and landscaping, Music Building masonry upgrade, Schenley Quadrangle brick/masonry restoration); electric and mechanical fire protection projects (Litchfield Tower B sprinkler and fire alarm, Forbes Residence Hall fire alarm, Information Sciences and Craig Hall electrical risers upgrade); GSPH elevator controls and door operators, and Trees Hall acoustical ceiling and lighting upgrade.

Active capital projects (total: $229,267,000)

* Commonwealth projects ($163,277,000) include: Petersen Events Center; Multi-Purpose Academic Complex; Eberly Hall renovations; upper-campus chilled water plant and steam distribution system; Bradford campus sports center and communications, arts and technology (CAT) building; Cathedral of Learning upgrade and deferred maintenance phase 1; Clapp, Langley, Crawford halls upgrade and deferred maintenance and building systems phase 1-A; Chevron Science Center ventilation and fume hood upgrade; Hillman Library renovations design, and Johnstown campus Owen Library renovations.

* Classroom and auditorium renovations ($996,000) include: Law Building G20 and G21 renovation; CIDDE classroom equipment upgrade; physics and astronomy classroom equipment upgrade, and regional campuses classroom renovations.

* Programmatic renovations/construction ($39,737,000) include: Thomas Boulevard warehouse renovations; McGowan Center; Plum Borough facility renovations; Old Engineering Hall 3rd floor Arts and Sciences instructional labs; Cathedral of Learning 7th floor renovations; Honors College (35th floor of the Cathedral) renovations; CGS McCarl Center; GSPH halls, offices and labs, and Bradford campus Frame Westerberg renovation.

* Preservation projects ($26,253,000) include: miscellaneous roof replacement and elevator upgrade projects; exterior repair/upgrade projects in Thackeray Hall (window replacements), general campus (landscape features and signage), Posvar Hall (replacement window gaskets) and Benedum Hall (plaza membrane replacement); and interior renovation projects, including at 3343 Forbes Avenue and Allegheny Observatory; general campus projects (restrooms, ADA compliance, signage upgrades); and electrical, mechanical and fire protection projects in Posvar Hall, the Cathedral of Learning and Litchfield Towers.

–Peter Hart