HVAC repairs finish on time, slightly over budget

The project to replace the heating/air conditioning system and to upgrade exterior campus lighting that was completed in late November came in $140,000 over budget, according to figures released by the college last week.

The project that began Aug. 12 and was completed Nov. 27 replaced nearly 50-year-old ventilation fans that were growing increasingly more unreliable. Smaller, more efficient units were installed.

As a result, MHCC will receive an Energy Trust of Oregon tax incentive of $351,000, plus a $58,000 bonus for finishing the project on time.

The $140,000 spent beyond the original $4.6 million budgeted amount was  “due to construction delays and added costs,” Maggie Huffman, MHCC director of communications, said in an email.

Besides the HVAC work, additional outdoor lights were added between the 1700 Building to the Stark Street entrance, at some extra cost. “Many people walk through that area at night, which was very dark before these lights were installed,” said Huffman.

One cost increase resulted from a change in code requirements during design review that engineers were not initially aware of, requiring adjustments after Gresham city officials reviewed the plans, Huffman said. New air intake routes were also found to be necessary for the Fisheries building.

Also, asbestos was found in an area not believed to contain it prior to construction, said Huffman.

“We found asbestos in two fan rooms, causing us to (locate) different air routes. The space was too confined to get in there and physically remove the asbestos. We also found asbestos on some pipes that had been hidden from view by the old fans.”

Portable heating and air conditioning units were rented during construction, as well.

Huffman said, “This project had its challenges, including those related to retrofitting a nearly-50-year-old building and making sure that classrooms, offices and other areas remained at a comfortable temperature.”

For instance, a strong odor caused by a sealant resulted in some complaints from instructors, staff and students; as a result, that sealant was replaced by an odorless one. The odor first surfaced between Aug. 12 and Sept. 27 and reappeared in early October. Employees were temporarily allowed to relocate, work from home or use vacation or sick days if the odor affected them.

Some areas were fully ventilated, and classes relocated or dismissed.

Going forward, there are contract guarantees in place to mitigate any further surprises.

If projected campus energy savings targets following the overhaul are not reached during the next seven years, Johnson Controls, the firm responsible for the replacement, must issue MHCC a check for the difference, based on their project contract. Precise savings goals are not available at this point, but it is estimated the project will save MHCC $4.65 million over the next 25 years.

The overriding positive of the project, Huffman said, is “we now have state-of-the-art instrumentation that continuously monitors the HVAC system and delivers just-right temperature air as needed, based on time of day and other factors.

“The new system is more responsive to changes in weather and demands coming from individual spaces,” she said. “It is a cutting-edge system that brings our college into the 21st century of energy efficiency and environmental conservation.”