Heating plant nears completion
While students wrap up their schedules for the semester, the Utah State University Infostructure Project which consists of building a new heating plant and steam tunnels is right on schedule.
“It [construction] seems to change daily. It’s hard to know whether you’ll run into a fence or not,” said Danielle Draper, an undeclared sophomore.
In response it is assured both projects are on schedule, said Jim Thompson, owners representative, who is overseeing both the heating plant and steam tunnel projects.
Bodell Construction is working on the new heating.
“It is a fairly complex project,” he said.
In March, the ground was broken for the new heating plant. On Jan. 2, the start up process will include testing each piece of equipment. A month later, the heating plant is scheduled to be up and running for the campus.
The new heating plant is gas-fired, whereas the existing heating plant is coal-fired. The new heating plant will also operate a lot cleaner and “efficiency will be higher,” he said.
All the codes for the structural, seismic and admissions are met with the new heating plant. The oil tanks are all double walled and monitored for leak protection. The burners are low admissions to keep down carbon monoxide and nox admissions.
The steam tunnel project is also coming along as scheduled.
Dave Forsgren, project manager for Whitaker Construction, the construction company working on the steam tunnel project, said the steam tunnel project is scheduled to have construction on the tunnels and sidewalk completed on June 28, 2002. The landscaping and sprinkler systems will begin in April and should be done by Fall 2002.
Whitaker Construction is a private contractor out of Brigham City and is over the entire steam tunnel project. Other contractors include A&B Mechanical out of Salt Lake City and Benler Construction, from Logan. Cache Valley Electric has their telephone and communications working on the steam tunnel project. All together there could be as many as 70 to 80 people working at a time, said Dave Forsgren, project manager for Whitaker Construction.
The work required to be finished this year is nearly complete for the steam tunnel project. Ninety-five percent of the excavation, 90 percent concrete work and 70 percent of the steam piping are complete. The only tunnels left to complete are north of the Education Building and the one leading into the Natural Resources Building. Weather permitting, these tunnels should be complete by the end of this month, Forsgren said.
Forsgren said he was impressed with the cooperation Whitaker Construction has received from the university.
“Whitaker construction appreciates the patience and understanding of the students and faculty. They are great to work with and we have received few complaints. We are working diligently to complete the sidewalk by the Art Barn as the weather allows,” he said.
The sidewalk from the Art Barn to the Geology Building is a high priority to have completed this year. Also, the crosswalks from the Biology and Natural Resource, Agricultural Science and Geology Buildings will be back in commission as soon as weather permits, Forsgren said.
Walking across campus next spring should not be as constrictive for students. The only tunnel left next year will be the one behind The Junction and the Towers, Forsgren said.
Forsgren said, “When students come back next fall, they will be pleasantly surprised.”
The new heating plant is situated north of the Spectrum. The new facility will begin the start up process of testing each piece of equiptment on Jan. 2. 2002. (Scott Davis )