Construction begins in May to finish a nearly total overhaul of Ohio University's heating plant, a project slated to finish in November 2010.
About $4 million in state funds will be spent in the final phase of the $12 million project that began in 2002 to renovate Lausche Heating Plant, which heats about 5.5 million square feet of OU's 7 million square foot campus.
We're trying to extend the heating plant's life another 10 to 15 years
said Dave Brown, project manager with University Planning and Implementation. This is the first major renovation in the plant's 40-year life.
The nearly complete overhaul will make the plant run more efficiently, said Clyde Pierce, the plant's chief engineer.
There's certain equipment we desperately need to replace and it has to be done Pierce said.
We need to do some work on the old girl
he added.
It's unlikely students will notice any difference during construction, Brown said.
That's the thing about engineering
people like you the best when you're invisible
he said.
Much of the work will center on the plant's boilers and renovations for new electrical upgrades, water lines, turbines, alternators and pressure-reducing stations, Brown said.
The equipment has been running 24 hours a day
seven days a week for over 40 years
Pierce said.
Four boilers in the plant serve the majority of campus; three are coal-fire and one is gas-heated. This is one of the larger projects in UPI's roughly $40 million in annual renovations, Brown said.
To replace all of our coal-fire burners with current technology would cost about $60 (million) to $70 million
Brown said, adding replacing the heating plant completely would cost between $200 million and $250 million.
From June 14, the day after graduation, to June 25, the plant will shut down for major renovations, cutting hot water and heat to the majority of campus for the first time in 12 years. About 50 to 100 employees will be hired for that short time, much more than during the rest of the project.
rd207206@ohiou.edu
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