This is the sixth edition of my “Desk Notes.” For those of you who have not been here this summer, the original concept of the “Desk Notes” was to give a little more insight to staff and faculty on the ongoing construction during the summer. I am uncertain whether I should continue through the academic year as I am acutely aware of the competition for the time and attention of the staff and faculty. On the other hand, I guess you can just hit “delete.” Let me know your thoughts.

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This is the fifth edition of my "Desk Notes." One of the best parts of doing this bi-weekly memo is the feedback that I am getting from all over campus. Sometimes the feedback is not necessarily something that I like to hear, but it definitely is something that I need to hear. I try to make sure that each question gets answered by either me or my staff. If I have missed replying, please try again, as I may have missed some because of the amount of message traffic or a random spam filter that seems to be functioning in my computer with the sole purpose of driving me nuts.

We are working very hard to complete all the summer projects prior to start of class. We are prioritizing the residence hall work and the classroom work. The annual steam shutdown was completed on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and we are fully operational as of today. The plumbers, steam engineers, insulators and electricians have done a fantastic job during this period to take maximum opportunity of the system downtime to perform critical maintenance and repair.

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This is the fourth edition of my “Desk Notes.” Again, thanks to all for your questions and comments. Your input helps Facilities Management do a better job serving the university. I would particularly like to thank everyone who responded to the proposed reductions in the custodial service. These budget-driven reductions were not welcomed by anyone. Your comments were, for the most part, extremely thoughtful and provided a basis to reduce the impact of the reductions.

Right after commencement on Aug. 22, we will begin the annual steam shutdown. This is an annual event that allows us to provide critical maintenance to the utility systems on campus. These systems, with the exception of this annual shutdown, run 24/7 all year long. That being the case, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to perform maintenance on these systems during the regular year without causing severe disruption in campus facilities. The annual shutdown allows us to operate the steam and electrical systems at a very high level of reliability. Thanks for your continued understanding and accommodation for this very necessary annual event.

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Photo by Adam Cochran | WWU intern

Work is continuing on the new pedestrian and bicycle walkways in the southern portion of campus.

The project is scheduled for completion in early September.

For more information, check out "The Shape of Things to Come" from Western's Facilities Management.

This is the third edition of my "Desk Notes." I would, again, like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to my second message. I would even like to thank the many individuals who responded to the 'thongs' typo. The comments were all in good humor and were much enjoyed by me and my staff.

We managed to make it through the heat wave, although many of the building air-handling systems struggled, and a few even failed. The good news is that we are back to a more typical summer weather pattern. Thanks to everyone for your patience and perseverance during that period.

Many of you may have noticed some intense activity in and around the entrance of Carver Gymnasium starting at the beginning of last week (Aug. 3). We have found that the sewer line leading from the bathrooms in the PEHR wing has failed and, apparently, has been in that condition for some time. We have had to cut a hole through the structural slab and will be pumping and excavating a large amount of material from under Carver in order to assess the extent of repair/replacement necessary for the sewer line. This work will, unfortunately, take an extended period of time. We will do everything we can to mitigate the impact of the work to the remaining occupants of Carver. I will keep you updated as we figure out how to deal with this breathtaking mess. By the way, if you see any of our great plumbers, please thank them profusely. They have earned that and more for their professionalism and good humor during the work on this job (No, I will not repeat their more interesting 'non sequiturs').

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Construction is continuing on the circulation project in the south campus area. Concrete trucks will be on campus every day through Aug. 14.

Work to be done this week (through July 31)

Note: Work starts at 6 a.m. due to higher temperatures.

• Excavating and grading sites.
• Installing light bases at paths adjacent to Academic Instructional Center.
• Installing underground electrical conduits.
• Forming curved concrete seat wall at Wade King Student Recreation Center.
• Ongoing relocation of irrigation.
• Placing concrete gutters and bands.

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Photo by Adam Cochran | WWU

Work is being done on the pathway in front of the Wade King Student Recreation Center.

This is the second edition of my “Desk Notes.” I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to my first message. Those responses provided me some very valuable feedback and suggestions, which I will incorporate into this message.

It’s going to be very hot this next week. If the forecast is correct, we could see temperatures in the 90s. This is going to make it difficult to keep a good teaching/learning environment in the classrooms, but we will do our best. I have directed that those buildings without air conditioning undergo a ‘flushing’ each night so that we draw in the cool night air and lower the temperature of the building mass. By lowering the temperature of the building mass, we hope to take the edge off the peak temperatures experienced by the occupants. Other than that, I would encourage everyone to dress appropriately for the temperature.

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The south campus circulation and safety project is designed to guide bike and pedestrian traffic away from the heavy construction traffic on East College Way.

The project is scheduled to be completed prior to the start of the demolition of the 1960s wing of Miller Hall in mid-August.

The crosswalks at Bill McDonald Parkway and the Wade King Student Recreational Center are open. The path between Academic Instructional Center and the Fairhaven tunnel is closed until construction of new pathway is complete.

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Image courtesy of Facilities Management

Beginning Tuesday, July 21, no parking will be allowed east and south of Miller Hall.

The contractor for the Miller Hall renovation project, Dawson Construction, will be installing the construction fence starting Tuesday. The fenced area is represented by the dotted line in the image to the right.

Construction signage is starting to be put in place today along East College Way. Commuters and pedestrians should give themselves a little extra time over the next few days to become familiar with the new pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle routes in and around this area of campus.

A trailer has been set up in Red Square for use as a temporary Miller Market; that store opens on Aug. 24.

For more information on the Miller Hall construction project, read the special edition of "The Shape of Things to Come" from Facilities Management.

Rendering courtesy of Facilities Management

Artist's rendering of the planned renovations to Miller Hall.

After much behind-the-scenes work, visible evidence of the Miller Hall renovation project is appearing in and around the building. The construction fencing is being installed, walking/bicycling or driving routes are beginning to be impacted.

Schedule:

• Early July: ATM removed.
• Mid July: 1960’s wing occupants (including Woodring College of Education and all WCE departments and programs) move into temporary spaces in the 1940’s wing. Construction fencing installed.
• Late July: Bid opening for abatement and demotion work.
• Early August: Parking kiosk installed.
• Mid August: Begin demolition in 1960’s wing.
• Late August: Relocated Miller Market opens in temporary trailer in Red Square.
• Late October: Demolition complete.

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This is the first of an ongoing series of messages intended to provide information to the campus on current and anticipated construction.  In this communication, I will not attempt to cover every project that we have ongoing (more than 40 projects are being executed by either our own Western personnel or contractor personnel) but will look at the next two weeks and highlight those projects that have significant impact or interest to campus.

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An existing deteriorated combination fire/domestic water booster pump system located in the basement of the Environmental Studies building will be replaced with a dedicated fire pump and separate domestic water booster pump system from mid-July to late September.

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Photo by Adam Cochran | WWU intern

This summer, the folks in Facilities Management are revising bike and pedestrian circulation in the south campus area. The project includes revision to the bicycle route from Bill McDonald Parkway through Fairhaven College and out to College Way. The other portion is pedestrian and bicycle routing around the Academic Instructional Center and the Wade King Student Recreation Center. Officials anticipate that the project will be complete by the start of school in the fall.

Week of July 6 - 10:

• Tiger Construction has installed construction fencing near Fairhaven College, the Academic Instructional Center and the Wade King Student Recreation Center.
• Tiger Construction has provided a temporary gravel pedestrian route to access Wade King Student Recreation Center from the south.
• An access road was partially opened to allow ADA access to Wade King Student Recreation Center from the north.

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Photo by Adam Cochran | WWU intern

The first major remodel to the Chemistry Building (originally built in 1993) are now under way.

A 4,300-square-foot addition will provide additional chemistry and biology research and instructional space is being added to the west side of the building. These new adjacent labs recognize the collaborative nature of chemistry and biology research. The Chemistry Department administrative offices will be relocated to the new addition.

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Photo by Adam Cochran | WWU intern

Construction is underway on the ventilation system in the Humanities building.

The original mechanical equipment in the Humanities building, built in 1963, is outdated and has exceeded its useful life. Improvements are also required for fire safety and code compliance.

Myers General, Walker Specialties, Dales Electric and Handy’s Heating are on campus for the work.

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Photo by Adam Cochran | WWU

Miller Market will be moving into its temporary location in this 70-foot trailer near the end of August. The market is closed until then.

The Miller Market eatery in Miller Hall is closed in anticipation of the renovation to the building being done in the next two years.

The market will open in its temporary location -- a 70-foot trailer in Red Square -- on Aug. 24.

Until then, the Tony's Coffee location in Haggard Hall on the other side of Red Square will be open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Facilities Management

This summer, the folks in Facilities Management are revising bike and pedestrian circulation in the south campus area.

The project includes revision to the bicycle route from Bill McDonald Parkway through Fairhaven College and out to College Way.

The other portion is pedestrian and bicycle routing around the Academic Instructional Center and the Wade King Student Recreation Center. Officials anticipate that the project will be complete by the start of school in the fall. There will be construction noise and traffic associated with the work such as trucks removing construction debris, concrete trucks placing concrete, and exterior landscape work.

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The Miller Market eatery in Miller Hall is closed in anticipation of the renovation to the building being done in the next two years.

The market will open in its temporary location -- a 70-foot trailer in Red Square -- on Aug. 24.

Until then, the Tony's Coffee location in Haggard Hall on the other side of Red Square will be open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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by Matthew Anderson | WWU

Work to improve East College Way as it wends through campus resumes in earnest this month. The plan is for construction to begin on or near Aug. 25, said David Willett, a project manager with Western’s Facilities Management.

Paint stripes for the bicycle lane already are in place, and the next phase of the project calls for the installation of speed tables along the route. A new crosswalk also will be added near the Steam Plant, and an additional disabled parking space is going in to the parking lot just south of the plant.

The contractor, RAZZ Construction of Bellingham, has done work for Western before, having installed the new tennis courts and made minor improvements to the parking lot just east of Fraser Hall, Willett said. RAZZ currently is installing new sprinklers in some of the Fairhaven dorms.

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by Matthew Anderson | WWU

The sawing and pounding coming from the Viking Union this summer can largely be attributed to ongoing construction work preparing the eatery for the addition of two new restaurants: Chick-fil-A and Mediterranean Grill.

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by Matthew Anderson | WWU

In an effort to increase campus transportation safety, Western Washington University officials plan to install a bicycle lane and add and improve crosswalks along East College Way in the next few months.

Other improvements also are slated for the road, which runs to Old Main between the campus and the Sehome Arboretum.

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