Hello again from your friends in the Emerald City.  As many head off for their summer vacation, it seems an opportune time to keep you apprised of what will be occupying the Facilities Staff and what is happening around the campus, both in view and behind the curtain.   

Many should have noticed the upgrade to the plantings and brick work done around the amphitheater prior to graduation.  Most of this was done as part of a gift project with coordination of Institutional Advancement and the Grounds Department.  Contractors did the brick repairs and alleviated both tripping hazards and some just plain bad looking areas.  Our grounds department did the planting, which included adding a good bit of irrigation to the beds and making other areas that are not irrigated look as if they were by a lot of sweat and hand watering. 

Some may have noticed the lack of spray and serenity (and sometimes water) around the Shaw fountain (in front of Johnson Hall.)   The fountain, which has become a landmark of the campus over the past 33 years, has finally succumbed to both electrical and arterial failure and has passed on.  However, we have the technology to make it better…better than it was before…and although not inexpensive, it won’t cost $6 million.  The new parts have been ordered. Everything except for the spray rings and tulip nozzles, which will be refurbished, will be replaced  by state of the art equipment that should give many more years of enjoyment. 

Yes, those pesky “Asbestos Abatement” warning signs are up again, this time on Poteat Residence Hall.  Crews are working every day to remove all the floor tile, stair treads, and asbestos ceilings in preparation for the “Summer of 07 Facelift” that will start in about two weeks.  The building will get fresh paint, inside and out, new floor tile and carpet, solid surface shower stall replacement, new ceilings and lights in the corridors and parlors, new furniture for all parlors and desk chairs for the resident’s rooms (basically all the stuff that’s not built-in),  and last but far from least, new HVAC controls and ventilation upgrade.  All this and it will be ready for occupancy the first week of August. 

We have been upgrading the elevator in Carroll Hall and the service elevator in Cate Center.  They currently have single walled cylinders which are being replaced with double walled cylinders for added protection in the event of hydraulic failure.  These two are the worst of seven elevators across campus that will eventually be done.  Since the job takes about two weeks, which means no elevator during that time, the others will be scheduled during times that cause the least inconvenience. 

While we’re talking elevators, we are still doing research and planning for the installation of the elevator in Joyner Hall.  The current preferred location is the center staircase.  As we assess the impact of that on other building systems and code implications, we will be coming up with a more accurate cost for the project.  As in most renovations, each time we touch something it touches something else.  After final decisions are made, the plan is to install the elevator next summer. 

We are in the process of supporting the recently announced reorganization by President Hartford with planning and modification of some of the office spaces in Johnson Hall.  The first domino in the plan will be the move of Academic Programs to the southwest side of the first floor.  Since we are very space limited, the phasing of the entire shuffle is very critical and as soon as we determine the entire impact and required space modifications, the initial moves, demolition and construction will commence. 

And last, but definitely not least, we continue to do the normal and some not so normal maintenance, grounds, housekeeping and projects around the campus both inside the buildings and across the grounds.

 Thanks for your time and attention.  As always, for any questions or comments, please contact your friends in Facilities Services at 8560 or visit our web site at: http://www.meredith.edu/service/facserv/default.htm.