Science Teaching and Student Services Building Update

There has been a lot of construction progress with the great spring weather. The exterior elevator is gone and the rest of precast brick panels was installed. The stainless steel column covers are about 98% complete and all grills are installed on the mechanical penthouse on the roof. The contractor has started on the foot bridge that will connect Pleasant St sidewalk to the foot bridge over Washington Avenue. The permanent electrical service was connected to the building to support the transition to more interior construction.

Drywall work and painting is complete on the fifth floor. Work is currently being done on the fifth floor flooring and finishes. The rest of the floors will follow consecutively.

The building is still on track to get LEED Gold Certification.

   Fifth floor classroom

Schedule viewer working

The general purpose and departmental schedule viewers are now functioning normally. Thank you for your patience while the issues were resolved.

If you experience any additional issues, please contact the Classroom Support Hotline 612-625-1086.

Schedule Viewers Down

We are currently experiencing issues with the general purpose and departmental schedule viewers. Technicians are working on the issue.



We will update you when this issue is resolved. We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause.

Classroom Heating and Cooling

Classrooms on the Twin Cities campus may experience fluctuations in their normal temperature range throughout the year, especially during seasonal weather transition periods. The Office of Classroom Management and Facilities Management are committed to providing the best possible teaching and learning environment for University faculty and students. If you feel the temperature in your classroom is either too high or low, please contact the Classroom Support Hotline at 612-625-1086.

The following is a note from Facilities Management regarding the transition from heating to cooling in campus buildings.

With warmer weather just around the corner FM has begun transitioning buildings from heating to cooling season -- a process that takes several weeks. We will be posting daily updates to FM District Heating-to-Cooling Plans at the following links:

East
Bank District
Health
Sciences District
North-West
District
St.
Paul District

Unlike your home, the U's conversion process is not as simple as flipping a switch on an air conditioning unit. First, we drain antifreeze from the system. Then, we clean and test both pipes and pumps. Finally, cooling towers and coils are filled with water. 

The towers and coils can't be filled too early because they can crack if night time temperatures dip below 29 degrees. If a coil breaks, it must be custom ordered and can leave an area without cooling for up to six weeks.

Despite our best efforts, some spaces may experience uncomfortable temperatures for a limited time.  Our goal is to minimize this exposure.

Spring 2011 Course Scheduling Begins

Spring 2011 Electronic Course Scheduling period one
opens Friday, February 19. During period one department schedulers are
expected to update course information (i.e., delete, add, change) and
submit all requests.

Course scheduling tips:

• Set enrollment limits and requested room capacities based on previous term's course enrollment +/- 10%.
• Spread course load across standard times and all five weekdays.
• Delete sections that are not going to be offered spring 2011.
• Move non-standard courses to a standard time.
• Increase utilization of departmental classrooms.

Please remember all courses meeting at a non-standard time will need a Request for Approval of Non-Standard Meeting Time/Day Pattern form.

For more information about scheduling policies, critical dates, and resources visit the OCM website or email the scheduling unit at classrm@umn.edu.

All Campus Presentation

Presentation about the dynamic digital signage system delivered by Anya Norton at the All Campus meeting on February 18.

Dynamic Digital Signage System

Science Teaching and Student Services Building Update

Despite the cold and snowy weather, a lot of
progress was made on the project in January. Installation of the precast panels is near
completion on the west side of the building with a total of 417 precast panels. The tower crane will finally be dismantled by the end of the month.
Metal panels are all in place on the mechanical penthouse on the roof and fabricated
louvers for the penthouse will be installed this month. Crews started installation of
the stainless steel cornice at the top of the building and stainless steel column
covers on the glass curtain wall. The skylight has been installed over the
curved stairs.

The interior is changing on an hourly basis. On the fifth
floor all under-floor rough-in has been completed and the raised floor is
installed with the exception of some corners and edges. Interior framing is
nearly finished as well. Raised floor installation has started on the fourth
floor and under-floor rough-in took off on the third floor. Fun fact the 89,000 square
feet of access flooring equals 22,250 individual panels. The structural steel
for the One Stop Student Services suite has been erected on the third floor. Electrical and mechanical rough-in is in progress on all five floors and in
different stages.

Pouring for the curved
stair is nearing completion. Installation of elevator cabs is coming to a
finish and in March one should be in operation. When the elevator is complete
the temporary exterior lift will be removed and the wall will be finished with
precast panels.