NEWS West Virginia University at Parkersburg
300 Campus Drive Parkersburg WV 26104
Phone: 304-424-8203 | Fax: 304-424-8315WVU Parkersburg completes more than $3.75 million in campus enhancements.
CONTACT: Dave White, director of facilities and grounds, 304-424-8225.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMore than $3.75 million in campus enhancements will greet students at West Virginia University at Parkersburg when they return this week for the fall semester.
"We have spent the summer continuing to improve the campus learning and working environment," said Dave White, director of facilities and grounds. "And, the results are significant."
The most immediate impact is a $3.5 million energy efficiency project involving the college's heating and air conditioning systems. WVU Parkersburg participated in a $13.5 million energy savings performance contract project initiated by WVU with Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
"Our phase of the project is designed to significantly reduce the annual energy and water usage on the Parkersburg campus," White said.
"It is being administered through a comprehensive program of energy-efficient capital improvements financed by the savings generated from the project," he added.
WVU Parkersburg's utility costs have totaled $700,000 a year, White noted. With the enhancements, the project is expected to save approximately $350,000 annually with the savings to be applied toward the 12-year performance contract.
Among the enhancements are the replacement of two 40-year-old chillers and new hot water boilers to replace steam boilers. The chillers were the original air conditioning units in the main campus building when it was first constructed in 1969, White noted.
"We appreciated the patience of our campus staff, students and faculty this summer as we replaced the air conditioning units," he said. "I think the results will well be worth some of the discomfort we experienced while the chillers were being installed."
As part of the project, the heating and air conditioning system for the campus is computerized to maximize energy efficiency and more effectively control the temperatures in classrooms and offices.
The energy efficiencies extend outside as well, White noted. The campus parking lots' lights have been retrofitted with energy saving lights which are also brighter for safety. All classroom, office and general area lighting was either replaced or retrofitted with energy saving bulbs and ballasts, White said.
"Classrooms now have noise or motion sensors so when no one is in a classroom for a period of time, the lights turn off," he added.
In addition, all of the college's commodes and urinals were replaced with water saving units which require half of the water of the originals.
There were also some summer construction projects which the campus maintenance and facilities staff completed. Several painting projects, including hallways and offices, were completed. A new $65,000 Financial Aid Office, including newly designed spaces and furniture, was constructed.
A state-of-the-art flooring system was installed in the multi-purpose room, made possible by a donation by AEP Architectural Interior Products, White noted. The room, where many of the college's larger activities are held, was also painted for the first time since it was constructed.
New instructional spaces included a new $25,000 art lab, and two large smart classrooms with seating for more than 100 students is being completed. The $100,000 smart classrooms are outfitted with a sympodium, projector, document camera, whiteboard, and electric screen.
Also, a distance learning classroom utilized by WVU's College of Business and Economics on the Parkersburg campus was renovated with new equipment and furnishings. The classroom is used for delivery of WVU's Executive Master of Business Administration program.
cd08/14/08
For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203, Office)
(304-424-8315, Fax)