On a sweltering August day, faculty, staff and students gather with USM President Richard L. Pattenaude, U.S. Representative Tom Allen, and representatives from Pizzagalli Construction for a single moment of success—to raise the highest beam in the new addition to the USM Bioscience Research Wing. The beam, covered in signatures of crowd members, appears light as feather as it is whisked away by a crane.
Once secured to the $4.4 million addition, the beam looks as if it has always been there. And when the expansion is complete in early 2005, it too will look like a natural extension of the campus.
It's all part of an ongoing, complex plan—the renovation and construction of facilities to match the academic determination of students, faculty, staff and community members. The level of detail on each project is astounding, and from the largest construction project to the smallest renovation, USM Facilities Management manages it all.
For as many projects you see, there are just as many you don't see,” says Dana A. Gray, USM's manager of engineering and architecture services. “We are like plate spinners. Keeping up with the day to day, trying to stay one step ahead of every project—it's a conscientious effort.”
In the last several years, USM has spent more than $70 million in active renovation and building projects, says David J. Early, executive director of Facilities Management. Much of this has been spent updating older facilities on each of USM's campuses.
“An old facility does not mean it's not a wonderful place for education,” he adds. “The building just has to be well maintained.”
For example, the Academy Building on the Gorham campus was built in 1805. Yet, the facility supports education and learning 199 years later. To keep the building current, a new heating system and windows were installed several years ago.
“The average age of our facilities is about 42 years,” says Early. “They are good facilities, but they need a lot of capital renewal.”
Some of the many upgrades in USM's existing facilities include replacement of older materials like carpeting and windows, system changes to promote cost savings such as heating system upgrades, environmentally-conscious improvements like the installation of more efficient lighting controls, and technological improvements like the addition of teleconferencing or multimedia technology.
Early and Gray say all of the improvement work completed on USM's campuses could not be accomplished without the dedication and superior work of a large team of architects, engineers, contractors and Facilities Management staff, or the time, talent and input of USM administrators, faculty and staff. However, many of these improvements receive little fanfare, such as the addition of new sprinkler systems in dorms or other updates to the classrooms and labs.
For example, at press time, update of the remote conference rooms in Bailey Hall, including the installation of two flat screen televisions and teleconference capabilities in Room 9 was nearly complete. In Room 403 of Luther Bonney Hall, the University spent about $35,000 to install new furniture, room darkening shades, new ambient lighting and lighting controls. The room also has been wired to facilitate multimedia presentations. Similar upgrades have been made in Room 204 of Payson Smith Hall. Likewise, the Moot Court Room in the Law School, Portland, has received new carpeting.
Perhaps the most dramatic improvements made this summer are the most visible. Such is the case in building and renovations of the John Mitchell Center on the Gorham campus. The 20,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of the existing 37,000 square feet is nearing completion, and occupancy by staff and students has begun. In addition to upgrading the air-conditioning system, Facilities Management has outfitted the entire facility for handicapped accessibility, including signage and ramps. Road improvements have been made along with the addition of a four-slip parking space near the building for carpooling members of the campus community.
At press time, Facilities Management also was overseeing the outfitting of the Lecture Hall, installing paneling made from wheat board and desks made from soy board. A design team also was finalizing the Building Automation Display—a flat panel screen that will be located in the lobby where visitors of the building can view the entire functionality of the building, including operating levels for electricity, heating and more.
Gray says the University has made a conscious effort to ensure the Mitchell Center looks like a technology building by enlisting valuable input from the faculty and staff in the center, architects at Harriman Associates and general contractor Wright Ryan Construction. The use of natural materials juxtaposed with stainless steel railings, exposed beams and tubing promotes this look and feel, he explains. And with the conscientious use of natural and green materials, Gray says the University hopes to have the building LEED certified at the Silver level.
Another highly visible project has been the work done on the Abromson Community Education Center, most of which can be seen by walking in either direction down Bedford Street.
Because the building will use no fossil fuels and will have no connection to the campus steam plant, the majority of the heating and cooling of the facility will come directly from the earth. The remainder of the operation of the building will be electric.
To further conservation, roof runoff and bleed water from the geothermal systems will be saved in wells for later use in the building's flush toilets.
As the University awaits the installation of the Alumni Skywalk later this fall there will be much preparation and work from an extensive team of workers. And with new facilities action steps outlined in “Transforming USM,” Early says future projects will require additional detailed planning. He is confident his department, with the help of an extended team of advisors and workers, can handle the workload.
“Constructing a building is so much a team effort. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons, a lot of people coming together, a lot of coordination that goes on—and a lot of paperwork,” says Early. “We take great pride in getting projects in on time and on budget.”
