Case Histories

May 1, 2001
Case histories

SINGLE-PLY ROOFING: Roof system protects buildings

The Culver Academies, located on the shore of Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Ind., has a 105-year history of academic excellence and rigorous standards. With more than 20 roofs on the 1,800-acre campus, the academy wanted a durable yet economical roofing system.

Republic Powdered Metals’ Geoflex Roof Systems provide the academy with the desired system.

"Republic provides us with a roofing product that is long-lasting and the best value for the money," says Hal Weitgenant, director of facilities at Culver.

Geoflex PIB is a single-ply membrane made with premium synthetic rubber polymer reinforced with a polyester fabric. The self-sealing seams and polymer make the membrane easy to install and repair.

"Geoflex was first used at Culver for retrofitting built-up roofs," says Weitgenant. "Now we use Geoflex on all our new construction buildings with flat roofs."

TILE AND GROUT MAINTENANCE: Restoration technology extracts embedded contaminants

When a parent informed Belleview Elementary School, Ocala, Fla., that she wasn’t going to send her daughter to that school because of the state of the restrooms, the school decided to try SaniGlaze from Royal Services on the ceramic tile in the restroom.

SaniGlaze extracts embedded contaminants from the tile and grout surfaces, and protects them from future absorption and deterioration with an impenetrable grout-glazing compound and a polymer-barrier shield. Maintenance for the surfaces coated with SaniGlaze consists of periodic service two to four times a year.

"This was a great alternative because tearing out floors is quite a disruption," says Mike Howell, technical services supervisor for Marion County Public Schools in Ocala. "That can take weeks. SaniGlaze came in one weekend and did the process. We came back on Monday and were amazed."

PRECAST CONCRETE: Concrete with brick veneer creates refined image for school

The Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, N.C., has a traditional look constructed from a less-traditional school construction system. The new school, with more than 275,000 feet, spans two levels and holds 1,750 students in grades 9 to 12.

For the project, Tindall provided 410 pieces of precast, prestressed concrete, most of which are 7 5/8ths-inch-thick insulated wall panels. The panels were manufactured with an integral thin brick facade in keeping with traditional school architecture in the region. Medallions, window sills and bands cast into the panels add to the appeal of the exterior. The interior side of the panels is coated with a textured, speckled paint.

"All of these features combine to create a very economical level of detail not usually afforded in school construction," says Robert W. Ferris, lead architect on the project.

BUILDING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE: Automated building-control system saves energy

Montana State University–Billings College of Technology’s campus facilities include more than 110,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory and shop space. In its continued efforts to grow, and as a way to more efficiently control energy costs, the college’s administrators recently decided to fully automate the facilities’ controls system.

The decision to automate the controls system was prompted by the need to replace an outdated HVAC system. They also wanted to monitor and manage energy usage, and be able to access the system via the Internet. In order to meet these goals, the university chose to install Tridium’s Vykon Building Automation Suite. The Internet-enabled software program provides the college the flexibility to access and control multivendor devices, using BACnet and LonWorks technologies, at any time, and from any standard Web browser. The program also allows the college to integrate the most cost-efficient control devices into one system.

In addition, the college now has 24-hour continuous monitoring of building controls, with alarming capabilities to alert the maintenance supervisor of any problems. When there was a problem with the college’s HVAC system one weekend during freezing weather, Ray Carl, maintenance supervisor, received an alarm from the system at home.

"I have the system set up where I receive an e-mail, a fax and a beeper alert when there is a problem," says Carl. "Because I can use my password and access and control the system from any standard Web browser, I was able to assess the problem from home. Without this system, I wouldn’t have known there was a problem until Monday morning."

CONCRETE PAVERS: Safer pedestrian walkways transform campus

An ongoing trend for university campuses of all sizes is to make pedestrian walkways safer and more attractive. Delaware State University in Dover, recently revitalized its campus walkways.

The $4.7 million project included areas where students informally meet outdoors and where the university needed formal space for events. Using interlocking concrete pavers supplied by a member of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), the university achieved a look that unified the campus. The redesigned exterior spaces allow a range of outdoor activities as they serve to connect both the green areas and the buildings on campus. The interlocking concrete pavement organizes, directs and gives meaning to the outdoor spaces.

More than 24,000 square feet of 23/8-inch concrete pavers tie outdoor spaces, walkways, landscape and buildings together on the campus used by 3,300 students. The pavers were placed over one inch of bedding sand and eight inches of compacted crushed stone base. Highlights of the project include a patterned gathering area outside of the library and a circular landmark displaying the university’s coat of arms near the campus center.

CARD ACCESS: One-card access increases security, simplifies system

Security is a major concern on the campus of Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass., with more than 2,000 students in 19 residences. The college’s administration wanted to replace the system of signing out keys to one that would allow for better monitoring of the comings and goings on campus. In the past, keys were easily lost, stolen or unreturned, resulting in expensive lock changes and compromised security. In addition, the college wanted to keep track of students’ meal plans and other services, while still offering them flexibility and choice.

To implement the University One-Card System from General Meters, the college used student enrollment records as the foundation for the user database. Photos were then taken of those who would use the cards. Once the picture ID phase was completed, the college started acquiring the equipment, and installing and networking. All 250 doors on the campus are now alarmed and there is one central monitoring point using the master security monitor. A lost card can be locked out in less than a minute. The system runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and requires almost no technical or computer background to operate.

Dining services and purchases are handled completely by the system. Students are able to use the card at any dining hall that accepts a direct deduction off the card, as well as use it as a debit card at cash points. The college also has put 45 soda machines, 20 laundry machines and four snack vending machines online. A gas pump has been linked to the system, allowing buildings and grounds staff and faculty members to fill up on campus using the card.

"I love One-Card," says Doug Vanderpoel, systems administrator for the college. "We can provide our students and faculty with a lot more access and options now because it is centrally controlled by one system. Students can use their card where they want to and make their own choices. The system has a life of its own now."

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