Despite recent progress, Ohio University is still half a billion dollars behind on its deferred maintenance projects.
In January 2009, officials estimated delayed maintenance projects - upkeep on infrastructure that has exceeded its working life - to total between $250 and $500 million. That estimate is now definitely in the range of $500 million, said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities.
I'd say that our deferred maintenance situation does continue to get worse
Wyatt said. That's not to say we're not making progress in completing deferred maintenance projects.
He said the situation has forced the university to use machines and infrastructure past their expected operational lifetime.
Wyatt noted that the university has fixed a number of old and broken properties in the past year, including $100,000 to repair broken walkways and walls, $430,000 to repair catwalks on South Green and $1 million to repaint, re-roof and install new fire alarm systems in Voigt Hall.
Other improvements include revamping West Green, and the $3.14 million conversion of 15 Park Place into a university building, paid in part by a $2 million donation, Wyatt said.
Within the deferred maintenance, OU has earmarked several projects as urgent, such as making the access ramp in Lindley Hall less steep and thereby compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Urgent maintenance projects also include replacing an out-of-date electrical system in Cutler Hall, a fire alarm replacement in McCracken Hall and fire alarm improvements at the Charles J. Ping Student Recreation Center as well as concrete restoration at the Convocation Center and replacing part of Clippinger Laboratories' roof.
Becky Watts, chief of staff to OU President Roderick McDavis, said that outdated learning and living facilities are problematic for students and faculty alike.
It's something we do need to do - but we need to do in the full context of the university financial situation Watts said.
OU relies on state funding to pay for its most urgent maintenance projects, and the university received about $23 million in state funding two years ago, Wyatt said. Only $5 million of that is earmarked for smaller deferred maintenance projects - the rest of it is for major capital projects such as renovating the old Baker University Center or buildings such as the Academic and Research Center, he said.
The amount of money the state gives OU for maintenance projects has decreased during the past few bienniums, and the university will not know this year's total until after the November elections, Wyatt said.
OU currently has no plans to construct new buildings in the next decade; instead, it is focusing on improving existing space, Wyatt said. Still, with costs on the rise, it has been nearly impossible to maintain machines and infrastructure appropriately, he added.
OU has recently formed an ad hoc committee to look into the residence hall maintenance.
A consultant estimated there are $350 to $450 million in renovations that need to be done on the dorms, said Kent Smith, vice president for Student Affairs and co-chair of the ad hoc committee.
The committee will look into the possibility of a public-private partnership and hopes to make a recommendation to OU's Board of Trustees at its February meeting.
We know we need to do something for the residence halls Smith said. A lot of our beds have not been touched in a long time from a maintenance standpoint.
The amount of money OU will allocate for the residence hall maintenance is the major factor in deciding what steps to take next, he said.
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Tristan Navera
