Good morning,
Welcome to all of the students that returned to campus last week. Our project team knows it is a busy time on campus that is intersecting with our efforts to wrap up the first year of construction. We have worked with the construction team to add wayfinding signage and to make sure crews are keeping an eye out for the extra traffic. We are asking everyone to be part of our efforts to maintain a safe campus, so please take extra care and attention for heavy equipment and work zones.
We also want to share the anticipated progress for this year’s construction, as we work toward a carbon neutral Oberlin College campus. By the end of the year, nearly 13 buildings will have been upgraded, and we will have installed nearly 25,000 linear feet of new heating and cooling pipe. Buildings that are fully converted to the new system are expected to be 30 percent more efficient. Additionally, these buildings will have local controls for greater occupancy comfort, expanded fiber networks, expanded fire protection capabilities, and upgraded mechanical and electrical systems. As we move through the next three years, these improvements will extend throughout campus.
Shifting back to the work anticipated for early October, the project team is completing campus building conversions. South Campus pipe installation is substantially complete. And central plant work is also nearing substantial completion. Flushing and testing of the new hot water and chilled water piping systems will start next week as our South Campus restoration continues.
To assist with navigating activity, wayfinding maps are updated on the Activity Page by 5:00 PM on Friday.
Week of October 4th
Road Closures
- All road restrictions should be lifted, although some periodic construction traffic may limit traffic flow. Flaggers will guide traffic when this occurs.
Signage and Fencing
- Pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle wayfinding signage installation and modification will continue to support the work as it progresses.
Staging
- Some random project materials will arrive on campus (pipe, materials, etc.), but this activity will be quickly diminishing, and these materials will be installed pretty quickly. Unused materials will be getting removed from campus.
Abatement
- Some minimal abatement work will occur on South Campus as needed.
Building Conversions and Improvements
- Work will continue in First United Methodist Church, Lewis Center, Allencroft, Harkness Hall, Julia Severance Art Studio, and Fairchild House. Some close-out work will also continue in South Hall, Baldwin, Conservatory Central, Bibbins, Conservatory Library, Robertson, and Lewis House.
- Testing and balancing activities will also be occurring in several South Campus buildings and dormitories. Workers will be chaperoned for this work.
- A temporary boiler will be installed on the north side of Harvey-Kade-Price, just south of Lewis Center. This trailer should be in place for a few months.
Distribution Pipe Installation and Plant Conversion
- Flushing and testing of the new hot water and chilled water distribution systems will begin, and South Campus restoration will continue.
- Work continues in the Central Services Building to prepare for the new carbon-free heating and cooling system. Pipe installation will also continue in the parking lot on the eastern side of the Central Services Building.
Week of October 11th
Road Closures
- All road restrictions should be lifted, although some periodic construction traffic may limit traffic flow. Flaggers will guide traffic when this occurs.
Signage and Fencing
- Pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle wayfinding signage installation and modification will continue to support the work as it progresses.
Staging
- Some random project materials will arrive on campus (pipe, materials, etc.), but this activity will be quickly diminishing, and these materials will be installed pretty quickly. Unused materials will be getting removed from campus.
Abatement
- Some minimal abatement work will occur on South Campus as needed.
Building Conversions and Improvements
- Work will finish up in First United Methodist Church, Lewis Center, Allencroft, Harkness Hall, Julia Severance Art Studio, and Fairchild House. Some close-out work will also continue in South Hall, Baldwin, Conservatory Central, Bibbins, Conservatory Library, Robertson, and Lewis House.
- Testing and balancing activities will also be occurring in several South Campus buildings and dormitories. Workers will be chaperoned for this work.
Distribution Pipe Installation and Plant Conversion
- Flushing and testing of the new hot water and chilled water distribution systems should conclude, and the new systems will be started up and commissioning.
- South Campus restoration will continue.
- The new systems in the Central Services Building will be started up and tested.
- The eastern side of the Central Services Building should be restored.
Parking (View Parking Map)
To accommodate staging and contractor parking for SIP and for Mudd renovation, changes to and alternative accommodations for faculty and staff are expected for the following lots:
- The Service Building East lot is unavailable until mid-October.
- Contractors will utilize marked parking spots in the Gray Gables parking lot through the duration of the project. There will be approximately 25 parking spaces available for staff and they will be marked accordingly.
As a reminder, Campus Safety has relaxed parking sticker lot designations for the summer in support of the SIP.
Also, please note all impacted faculty and staff are not limited to the designated alternative accommodations outlined here should another lot on campus better suit their schedule and campus pathway.
Other Work on Campus
Beyond the Sustainable Infrastructure Program, some other work activities on campus will have an impact on pedestrian and bike traffic. The Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA) project continues in the Mudd building. This project involves a renovation of Mudd A-level into new student counseling, engagement and activity space. It involves a complete rebuild of the former Center for Information Technology spaces and lower courtyard enhancements to all direct access to CELA from the A-level courtyard. This work includes installation of a new concrete ADA ramp for the lower courtyard. Concrete is currently being removed from the plaza, and this concrete work will continue through the end of October. In support of this work, the sidewalk heading in the southwest direction from Mudd Library will be designated for equipment through the end of October, and wayfinding signs will identify pathways for pedestrians and bikers to follow.
For questions regarding the Mudd/CELA project, please contact Brad Burrer at bburrer@oberlin.edu (440-935-0909).
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