The University Record, December 5, 1995
REGENTS’ ROUNDUP
Note: Regents’ Roundup appears as a semi-regular feature in The Record.
Capital outlay request stands at $81 million
At their November meeting the Regents approved a number of renovation and construction projects to be included in the University’s 1997-98 capital outlay request to the state.
The request for projects on the Ann Arbor main campus totals $81 million. Of the total, $48 million is for new projects and $33 million is for continuing projects, or those that have been recognized by the state Legislature on a continuing basis but which may or may not have received recent appropriations.
Housing facilities renewal projects approved
Major renewal and improvements for several Housing facilities over the next few years were approved by the Regents at their November meeting.
The following projects will be scheduled:
The original Couzens Hall was constructed in 1925, with an addition in 1956. The combined structure encompasses 182,000 square feet of floor space and houses more than 500 residents. Because of their age, many of the building’s components are worn out and need renewal and/or upgrading.
Alice Lloyd Hall was constructed in 1949. It encompasses 190,000 square feet of floor space and houses over 500 residents. Many of the building’s components are worn out and need renewing and/or upgrading.
Northwood II and III underground utilities. Last year, the Regents approved a $5 million proposal to replace the existing underground piping systems for domestic hot and cold water and heating, to be phased over several years. To date, approximately $200,000 has been expended for design and specifications of the first construction phase, leaving a balance of $4.8 million to complete the remaining project.
The Northwood IV apartments were built in 1968 and house 400 families. The direct-buried, underground secondary electrical distribution system is made of aluminum cables that have deteriorated and are causing costly and frequent disruptions in electrical service to the apartments. The cables will be replaced at an estimated cost of $1.1 million.
It is anticipated that these projects would begin during summer of 1996 and be completed during the summers of 1997 and 1998. The total cost of these projects is $15.9 million and a detailed financing plan will be brought to the Regents for approval.
Hospitals’ renovation projects OKd
Several renovation projects for the University of Michigan Hospitals were approved by the Regents at their November meeting.
A project to upgrade four elevators and eight elevator lobbies in the Mott Children’s Hospital. In addition to refinishing the spaces, new operator panels will be provided to bring the elevators into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The estimated cost of the project is $310,000.
The main part of the North Ingalls Building (NIB) was built in 1955; its electrical substation was replaced in 1973. Some of the power distribution system was upgraded as a part of the NIB renovation in the 1980s. The balance of the power distribution system must be replaced to meet current codes and power demands. The estimated cost of the project is $250,000.
The existing air handling unit and associated roof-mounted condensing unit for the Turner Geriatric Building will be replaced and upgraded with a new unit sized to provide sufficient airflow to the affected areas. The return air fan that serves the air handler and the existing rooftop unit also will be replaced. The estimated cost of the project is $625,000.
The chilled water requirements for the A. Alfred Taubman Health Care Center have increased over the last 10 years due to increases in heat-producing equipment and activity. The increased load has caused the chilled water pumps to operate at their maximum capacity much of the time, negating any energy conservation benefits to be gained by using a variable speed system. The variable speed drive units have become unreliable and overly expensive to maintain. Replacement and upgrading of the drives and pumps are estimated to cost $286,000.
