July 9, 2008

Critical Maintenance Proceeds on Schedule at Indian Quad

Work on Indian Quad, including upgrading fire alarm systems in six low-rise buildings, is proceeding on schedule, and will be finished before students return to the University at Albany-SUNY for the fall semester.

Whereas the academic buildings on campus largely rely on the State budget to provide capital grants to fund improvements, all residential buildings on campus must be renovated with funds that are borrowed and supported by student room revenues. Accordingly, this funding challenge hampers the ability of UAlbany -- and all SUNY campuses � to upgrade and repair residence halls at a faster pace.

Nonetheless, UAlbany is embarking on its largest residence hall capital improvement plan since the facilities were first constructed.

The 2008-09 year will initiate $22.6 million in residence hall upgrades, including the following notable projects:

Tuscarora Renovation
This low-rise on Indian Quad was gutted and is being renovated in conjunction with a total dining hall transformation. The project will include installation of an elevator, making Indian Quad handicapped accessible. This combined residence-dining hall project is scheduled for completion by August 2009. 

New Bed Construction
The University is exploring the construction of perhaps 500 to 1,000 new residence hall beds. Partial funding is earmarked to initiate planning and design of apartment style beds on or near campus.

Critical Maintenance
The University will be in the fourth year of its five-year upgrade of all residence hall fire alarms: alarm systems in six low-rises on Indian Quad � as well as in State (Eastman) Tower and Waterbury (Alumni Quad) � will be replaced with the latest technology. In addition, two floors of Indian (Mohawk) Tower windows will be replaced as a prototype first step for future energy efficiency upgrades; two low-rise roofs on Indian will be replaced; and selected heat exchangers on Indian will be replaced.

Source: Facilities News

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