Facilities Management Summer Projects Include Updates, Improvements

The Department of Facilities Management had a very productive summer that included scores of campus renovations and construction projects, in addition to their regular work in maintenance, lawn work, painting and more.

 
According to Rod Dobish, associate vice president and chief facilities officer, work on the sixth floor of Rockwell Hall was the largest project to be completed. “We basically did demo work on the whole floor and the pedestrian bridge got a makeover,” he said. “We knew going in that Rockwell was going to be the most challenging project, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”

The newly renovated sixth floor houses the Investment Strategy Institute, the Albert P. Viragh Institute for Ethics in Business and the Institute for Sustainable Business Innovation for the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. Additionally, the new space includes the Business Leader Bistro market (previously located in the building’s concourse level) and features a two-story atrium that was achieved by removing part of the seventh floor.

The exterior of the Rockwell pedestrian bridge was removed and replaced with new glass and aluminum structure, and climate control was updated.

Facilities management’s other summer projects included:

• Rockwell Hall: the south façade of the building was pressure-washed. All windows on that side were replaced as part of a three-year project to replace all of the building’s windows.
• Libermann Hall: completion of the final phase to replace of the major heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Exterior ductwork on the north façade was installed to provide a pathway for supply and return air to the floors in the main tower. OT work room and electrical upgrades were also done.
• Koren Building: fire protection and sprinkler modifications were made.
• Cooper Building: upgrades were done to the second, third and fourth-floor Computer and Technology Services offices
• Fisher Hall: south façade repairs along the upper portion of the building were finished and fan coil units for HVAC were replaced on the third, sixth and seventh floors.
• Brottier Hall: completion of phase one of a three-year project to replace all windows, paint exterior metal panels and upgrade apartment kitchens, bathrooms and finishes.
• School of Health Sciences: enhancements to third-floor simulation lab were completed, including installation of new equipment and upgrade to all finishes.
• Trinity Hall: replaced upper roof.
• Union: exterior ramp repairs, exterior door replacements and upgrade to room 613 were done.
• Mellon Hall: roof repairs were done and a new coating system was applied to extend the life of the roof. Electrical switchgear upgrades were completed, and biology labs and offices were renovated.
• College Hall: the final phase to replace the building’s heating and cooling system was completed. Upgrades were finished to the building’s sprinkler system. Corridor upgrades were made. Lecture hall 104 had flooring and acoustical upgrades, and seating was replaced. The new seating includes electrical power and USB outlets.
• Rooney Field: the artificial turf surface was replaced.
• Forbes and Locust parking garages: annual preventive maintenance included pressure washing, re-sealing, parking space re-striping and concrete repairs.
• Vickroy Hall: seventh floor bathroom renovations were completed, including upgrades to shower heads and faucets.
• Martin Hall: phase two of a three-year project to replace corridor and student room flooring was finished.

Facilities also made progress on the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, previously known as the A.J. Palumbo Center, and that work continues as planned. “The project is going well,” Dobish said. “It’s on time and on budget.”