NWACC renovates heating and cooling system
Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2008
BENTONVILLE - While the halls of Northwest Arkansas Community College have been empty of staff and students, workers have been making major changes to the college's heating and cooling system.
NWACC is nearing completion of a $4.1 million renovation to its flagship building, Burns Hall. A chunk of that renovation was to replace and upgrade the HVAC system, which was done during the winter break so it would not inconvenience anyone, said Jim Lay, NWACC executive director of construction.
The college replaced its two original cooling towers with towers that are about twice the size as the originals. The new cooling towers will accomplish two major and necessary tasks - increased energy efficiency and drastically increased capacity.
The original cooling towers were placed in Burns Hall when it was constructed in 1995. In the last 13 years, the building has been expanded four times, increasing from about 92,000 square feet to the existing 180,000 square feet.
The process to replace the towers started around Thanksgiving, when the new towers - in several pieces - were put into place with a crane. Work had to stop until Dec. 26, when the HVAC system was disconnected and the new cooling towers were installed. Crews estimated it might take up to four days to complete the task, but they were done in less than three days, Lay said. Temporary heaters were available to use while the system was disconnected, but the warmer-than-normal temperatures last week made the heaters unnecessary.
Many other changes have been made to Burns Hall, with renovations being completed on each floor. For years, when anyone stepped off the elevator to the third floor to get to the executive offices, they were greeted by cubicles that filled the atrium. The cubicles were replaced with a receptionist's desk and a new emblem on the wall, as well as new flooring. Office space was also renovated on one side of the third floor to house the NWACC Foundation.
The following improvements were made on the first floor:
· The library was expanded and renovated, and the Writing Center was added.
· The former commons area was converted into a 90-station computer lab and tutoring center.
· The cashier's area was transformed into the Accounts Payable Office.
· The atrium floors were converted from carpet to tile.
· The Testing Center became the Professional Development Center.
· The Student Services area was converted to administrative services.
On the second floor, the former student records and admissions areas were converted to four classrooms.
Renovation of the exterior of Burns Hall included replacing the building's roof because of repeated storm damage.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
