| RELATED INFO |
| * Purdue Board of Trustees |
| * Physical Facilities |
| * Aviation Technology |
July 6, 2007
Trustees approve new boiler, vet laboratory, aviation building
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
The new Boiler 6 will be able to produce up to 300,000 pounds of steam per hour. Though increasing overall plant steam generation capacity, its addition to the existing fleet of boilers will decrease the university utility plant's overall emissions, helping to improve local and regional air quality, said Wayne W. Kjonaas, vice president for physical facilities.
"The new boiler is necessary to ensure that the plant remains in compliance with environmental regulations in the most economical manner and to ensure a reliable source of heating for all of the new facilities constructed in the last decade," Kjonaas said.
Boiler 6's combustion process is called circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology, utilizing limestone in the furnace at low-combustion temperatures followed by a fabric filter, or "baghouse." The result is a system that captures more than 90 percent of the acid gas, mercury and soot emissions with low emissions of smog-forming pollutants. CFB technology is "fuel flexible" and well suited for the use of CO2-neutral biofuels, which are becoming more available and more appealing in environmental stewardship efforts. In addition, the new boiler will produce steam more efficiently, which will save the university several million dollars annually in operating costs, Kjonaas said.
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Preliminary design and permit applications are in the works, and the new boiler is expected to be online by 2011. The boiler will be built with proceeds from the 2007 fee replacement bond issue.
The new Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory will include animal necropsy facilities, virology and microbiology laboratories, and housing for rodents, birds and intermediate-sized animals such as pigs and sheep.
This building will benefit the health of both animals and humans in Indiana, said Leon Thacker, the facility's director and a professor of veterinary pathology.
"This building will allow us to provide diagnostic activities and investigations with confidence that we can contain such catastrophic diseases as bird flu, classical swine fever or other agents that begin in animals and may jump to humans," Thacker said. "We will be conducting research on infectious diseases so the new building will not be idle between investigations."
Thacker said the building will help develop diagnostic techniques, treatments and vaccines, and house disease-related activities of commercial industries. Construction will be funded with bonds.
The Niswonger Aviation Technology Building will receive an 18,200-square-foot addition that includes new classrooms and lecture rooms, conference rooms, and collaborative space for student/faculty research teams, administrative and student services offices, a computer laboratory and a student lounge. Aviation technology department head Thomas Carney said state-of-the art facilities will foster collaboration among students, faculty, and representatives from industry and government.
"Our current building has served us well for more than 50 years, but this is the first time that we will have classroom and collaborative space designed specifically for aviation technology education, industry engagement and applied research," Carney said. "This expansion will serve as the focus of a world-class department that is central to Purdue's identity as an aviation leader."
In the existing building, restrooms will be renovated, safety systems will be upgraded and utilities relocated. The entire project will be funded with private gifts.
Scott M. Niswonger, who received an associate's degree in aviation technology from Purdue in 1968, pledged the original $3 million in 2004 and issued a challenge to raise the remainder of the funds.
The trustees also increased the authorization for fire safety equipment in the Brown Laboratory of Chemistry building to $3 million. The previously approved fire alarm system installation now includes an additional $2.02 million for a sprinkler system.
"These two systems interact heavily, and there will be a cost savings to combine them into one project," said Morgan R. Olsen, executive vice president and treasurer.
The entire project, which is being designed by R.E. Dimond & Associates Inc. of Indianapolis is being funded by repair and rehabilitation funds generated from bond proceeds.
The trustees hired A2SO4 of Indianapolis to serve as architect for the remaining four phases of the $53 million renovation at Windsor Residence Halls.
The five-year project will upgrade all five Windsor buildings by adding air conditioning, improving community bathrooms, replacing all passenger elevators, replacing existing mechanical and electrical systems, improving fire protection and handicap accessibility, and restoring historical architectural elements.
During the first phase of renovation, A2SO4 served as consultant to architect Veazy Parrott Durkin & Shoulders. That firm has since reorganized into two separate firms, VPS Architecture Inc. and Durkin & Villata Partners Engineering Inc. Each of those firms will now provide consulting during the remainder of the $4.65 million engineering contract.
The entire project is being funded by student facilities system revenue bonds that will be paid for by user fees. Purdue University Residences is a self-supporting operation.
Trustees voted to name the biomedical engineering building and a new child care and education facility for Purdue President Martin C. Jischke and his wife, Patty Jischke. Plans to name the buildings in honor of the Jischkes were initially announced on June 30.
The $25 million biomedical engineering building, which opened in fall 2006, will be called the Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering, and a $3 million child-care facility set to open next year will be called the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center.
The biomedical engineering building, the first of its kind in Indiana, is home to the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. The four-story, 91,000-square-foot building houses specialized laboratories for biomedical research and development and integrated educational facilities that involve students in real-world research activities.
The $3 million, 10,917-square-foot child-care center, to be located at Nimitz and Marshall drives, will accommodate approximately 86 children ranging in age from six weeks to preschool. The on-campus service will be open to children of Purdue faculty, staff and students at West Lafayette. It is expected to open in the summer of 2008.
The trustees also approved a request to name the new music building at IPFW the John and Ruth Rhinehart Music Center.
The $25 million center, scheduled to be occupied in August, will house a recital hall, two large rehearsal halls, classrooms, a recording studio, electronic music and music education laboratories, and space for community arts organizations.
The Rhinehart family provided IPFW with an endowment to support music scholarships and faculty development.Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Wayne Kjonaas, (765) 494-8000, wwkjonaas@purdue.edu
Leon Thacker, (765) 494-7460, thackerl@purdue.edu
Tom Carney, (765) 494-9942, tcarney@purdue.edu
Morgan Olsen, (765) 494-9705, mrolsen@purdue.edu
Michael A. Wartell, IPFW chancellor, (260) 481-6659
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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