Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration, delivered a report to the Regents on capital contracts and Facilities Management projects, highlighting work planned for the summer months on campus.
That work includes replacing the chiller at the Holcomb Success Center, upgrading the Towers South fire alarm system, renovating and completing an addition to the track building, renovating the Magill Biology Greenhouse and engineering design work for the Towers West and North elevators.
Mangels also highlighted renovations which are expected to be completed in mid-July to the Rosemary Berkel Crisp Hall of Nursing. The project is possible thanks to funding provided through House Bill 19, which provided maintenance and repair dollars for Crisp Hall, in addition to Grauel Building and Brandt Hall of Music. Work began on Crisp in January and has included complete renovation of the facility, including replacement of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire alarm systems. Total project cost, which includes consultant fees, construction, furniture and telecommunications is $6 million. When complete, the facility will be home to the Department of Nursing, Counseling and Disability Services and the Campus Health Clinic, bringing Southeast’s health and wellness resources under one roof. The building is expected to reopen for the fall 2019 semester in August.
She also highlighted work recently completed on a new Cyber Range on the second floor of Dempster Hall. The facility provides an enhanced environment for specialized cybersecurity research, testing and training. The Cyber Range houses servers, routers, networking equipment, an uninterrupted power supply and monitors. It is expected to serve as both a resource to students and faculty and assist in providing the infrastructure to host and promote education and training opportunities. Southeast anticipates the Cyber Range will become a catalyst for creating a centralized point for encouraging and promoting partnerships between government, industry, education and other sectors. Mangels said the Cyber Range is a phenomenal resource not only for the University but also the entire region.
In addition, she said evaporative coolers are being installed as part of HVAC upgrades at the Magill Biology Greenhouse this summer. The facility also is receiving electrical updates and partition walls are being installed. Kiefner Brothers, Inc., is the contractor for the project, which is expected to be completed Aug. 15.
Work is also underway on the track building to address Title IX-related issues in the locker room areas. The building is being renovated and square footage added to best address these concerns, Mangels said. Clark & Sons Excavating, LLC, is the contractor for the project, which is expected to be completed by July 31.