Students and faculty who arrived on campus after holiday recess may have seen the giant crane overlooking the Julian Science and Mathematics Center. Yet few probably know why it is there.
DePauw is using this Winter Term to replace the water tower that sits on the Julian rooftop. The water tower controls the air-conditioning for Julian, the Lilly Center and the Green Center for Performing Arts. The current tower is around 40 years old and needs to be replaced, according to Jim Ruark, assistant director of facilities.
"The life of the tower is well past its expiration," Ruark said. "It was rebuilt once around 20 years ago, and it is only made out of wood."
Ruark said the project is estimated to cost around $700,000. Associate Vice President of Finance Kevin Kessinger said the capital budget this year for the Facilities Department was set at one million dollars, with $750,000 set for the new air conditioning unit, $100,000 for academic equipment and $150,000 for unpredicted projects.
"The majority of the contingency will likely be utilized for unanticipated roof repairs on Julian, although that is still being determined," Kessinger said. "The chiller was viewed as a high priority, necessary preventative maintenance project."
Misco Construction is handling the job for the new air conditioning unit. The first step in the project is constructing the supports that will hold the unit.
"We're putting in some supports for the units," said Ryan "Shaggy" Pershing, Misco ironworker. "Once we finish those, the crane will take those to the roof, and the [air conditioning] unit will sit on top of it."
Ruark said the project is ahead of schedule and the crane should be off campus within seven to 10 days. Ruark said the crane still has to be used to until all of the large connecting pipes are fabricated and lifted into place.
"Just getting the [air conditioning unit] set up there is just part of it," Ruark said. "Then the actual connections and piping stuff that has to go on between, like the welding, will continue for another month, six weeks probably."
The project has not caused any effects with daily life within Julian. In fact, students barley even notice the construction while in class.
"Honestly, you can barely notice any construction happening," said freshman Michael Hornack, who has a class in Julian. "The only sign that something is even going on is the giant crane that overlooks the building."
Even though the project is ahead of schedule, there is plenty of time to finish the job. Since it is an air conditioning unit, it is obviously only used when necessary.
"This piece of equipment is only used during air conditioning season," Ruark said. "It has to be completed and back up running by the first of April."
