January 28th, 2010

From Frank Mazzola, Physical Plant:

Construction on a new special collections and archives facility is currently underway in Mason Library. The facility, with a formal reading room and climate-controlled storage, will provide a permanent home for the college’s archives, special collections, and rare book library. Work is being performed by Westfield Construction Co. of West Chesterfield and will be complete in March. This project was an approved strategic initiative from last year’s planning cycle.

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Keene State's commitment to sustainability has brought two huge co-generation steam boilers to campus. Each of the units creates steam for heating and more efficiently generates electricity, saving money and lessening CO2 emissions. (Photo by Colin Burdick).

This winter, Keene State will heat its campus more efficiently, generate electricity, and reduce the College’s carbon footprint. A newly constructed co-generation heat plant is expected to reduce energy costs by more than $120,000 a year and to reduce green house gases caused by campus electrical consumption by more than 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

When the steam plant that has heated the campus for nearly 100 years needed an upgrade, the design team chose to think more broadly about the assignment: How could it incorporate other energy savings? The project, which had originally focused on replacing two 46-year-old boilers, expanded into a new co-generation facility with classic lines attractive enough to be built on the original site at the center of the campus.

The new brick building blends with neighboring Fiske Hall, the College’s first residence hall, and has huge glass panels that reflect the central campus quad. Inside, the two new boilers have high-efficiency burners that increase steam output with almost no waste. A control system regulates the boilers for maximum output, and they use less water. In addition to providing heat, the steam turns a turbine that will generate up to 12% of the campus’s electricity.

Vice President for Finance and Planning Dr. Jay Kahn estimates a seven-year payback and a $5.6 million savings over the 30-year life of the boilers. “We could save even more if they last as long as the 46-year-old boilers they are replacing,” he adds.

The $9.5 million project began in April of 2008, when contractors razed the 79-foot brick chimney of the old plant (the bricks were then recycled into road base). Construction was completed in spring of 2009.

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Leaks in the water main that runs the length of Wyman Way have caused deterioration of the roadway, parking lots, and sidewalks. The water main must be replaced to prevent further damage, and to protect the safety of pedestrians, vehicles, and facilities in the area.

The replacement work is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 29, and will continue through Monday, July 13. Wyman Way from Main Street to the Tisdale Apartments will be closed during this period, but vehicles will be able to access the south side of campus from Winchester Street by turning into Butler Court and driving through the Whitcomb gate into the Spaulding parking lot from the west. This will provide access to both the Redfern parking lot and the Elliot parking lot (enter through the driveway nearest the Art Gallery). Signs will be posted to help with the traffic flow.

In addition to these traffic changes, buildings on the south side of Wyman Way (Keddy House, Grafton House, and Tisdale Apartments) will experience water shutdowns for short periods of time. Notice of these shutdowns will be communicated in as timely a manner as possible to minimize disruptions. Please direct questions and concerns to Bud Winsor (Physical Plant) at 8-2702 or bwinsor@keene.edu.

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More than sixty people gathered in the lobby of Pondside III, Keene State’s newest residence hall, for a dedication ceremony on Monday, October 13. The residence hall has received LEED® Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Dr. Jay Kahn, vice president for Finance and Planning, introduced members of the design team, including Lavallee-Brensinger, Newman Architects, RFS Engineering, and VHB Civil Engineering. Representatives from the construction manager, MacMillin Corporation, led tours to showcase student suites and sustainable design features. Other contractors present were Hamblett Electric and Stromgren Plumbing and Heating.

Al Rydant, Mary Jensen, and Student Body President Dan Saucier described the living-learning communities and their success in Pondside III. Mayor Dale Pregent presented a proclamation from the city of Keene recognizing the example the College has set with the first LEED-certified building in the City, and USNH Trustees Chairman Ed Dupont congratulated the College on completing yet another award-winning building.

Photo: Mark Corliss
From left to right, Jay Kahn, Fred Urtz of Lavallee-Brensinger, and Herb
Newman of Newman Architects.

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Pondside III, Keene State’s newest residence hall, will be dedicated on Monday, October 13, at 4 p.m. in the Pondside III lobby. The event is open to all.

The residence hall received LEED® Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED® is the USGBC’s rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient, high-performance buildings. LEED® certification of Pondside III was based on a number of green design and construction features, including:
• Windows and skylights for natural lighting and ventilation
• Use of natural wood and stone in interior spaces
• Recycled aluminum can shavings for countertops and windowsills
• Recycled content in all flooring materials
• Motion sensors for light switches
• Energy Star appliances and low-energy lighting used throughout
• Building envelope, a high-performance thermal and air/vapor barrier system
• Low-flow shower and lavatory sink fixtures; dual-flush toilets to minimize water usage
• Heat recovery coils on shower drains to preheat new water
• Individual room thermostats
• HEPA air filters for increased indoor air quality
• Occupancy sensors and daylight sensors in all suites and public spaces for smart energy consumption
• Custom exterior lights to minimize light pollution
• Bike storage area
• Landscape of local and regional plant species requiring no irrigation system
• Access to public transportation system
• Green cleaners education program

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From Frank Mazzola, Physical Plant: The Keene State College Physical Plant Department was formally recognized at The Granite State Quality Council (GSQC) 2008 Conference and Recognition Ceremony held in Manchester, N.H., on June 25. The department received a plaque and a letter of recognition from Governor John Lynch. Only one other organization in the state was recognized in 2008.

The GSQC Recognition and Award Program recognizes New Hampshire organizations for performance excellence using criteria established in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Quality Recognition Program consists of four levels: quality interest, quality assessment, quality commitment, and quality achievement. The Physical Plant Department was recognized in the quality assessment category.

Governor John Lynch joined the GSQC in congratulating Keene State with a letter stating “[they] have recognized the need to identify and strive for best practices in support of better serving their customers, developing an engaged and skilled workforce, and ultimately in support of strengthening the New Hampshire economy.”

Photo: Gil Talbot Photography

Frank Mazzola (director) and John Lorette (Work Control supervisor) accept GSQC and the Governor’s recognition on behalf of the Physical Plant Department at Keene State College. L to R: Ann Warner, executive director, Granite State Quality Council; Frank Mazzola; John Lorette; David Branch, Conference keynote speaker and Baldrige evaluator; Tom Raffio, GSQC chair and CEO of Northeast Delta.

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From John Lorette, Physical Plant: On Sat., July 26, there will be a campus-wide power outage from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to conduct required inspection and maintenance of one of the College’s electrical substations.

This outage will include all campus buildings except: Cheshire House, Math Building, Center for Writing, 115 Winchester Street, Owl Athletic Complex on Krif Road, College Camp at Wilson Pond, and several of our residential houses (Carroll House, Proctor House, 83/85 Blake Street, 361 Main Street, 27 and 21 Appleton Street). Generators will be running in areas that require constant power to maintain essential equipment such as data servers and telephone lines.

Please remember to power down your workstation and shut off printers and other nonessential electronic equipment on Friday before you leave campus. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to John Lorette at 8-2202 or jlorette@keene.edu.

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