Physical Plant

On July 16, Physical Plant began spearheading a College Row sidewalk replacement project. After removing the existing concrete sidewalk, that spans from Church Street to Wyllys Avenue, contractors installed a 13-foot-wide asphalt path that will accommodate large groups of people, such as campus tours. The existing path was 8-feet-wide. "This sidewalk has a large amount of foot traffic all year round," said Wesleyan grounds manager Rob Borman. "The concrete sidewalks around campus also have shown considerable decay, primarily due to salt use in winter." The wider sidewalk also will allow grounds maintenance staff to remove snow faster and easier by using a larger machine. Asphalt,…

The Exley Science Center’s first level, which underwent renovations earlier this year, has been outfitted with all new furniture, offering a variety of seating options. According to Brandi Hood, senior project coordinator with Construction Services, the lobby boasts 34 new lounge seats with end tables (each with USB and power outlets); four tables with 15 low-top study seats; six tables with 24 high-top café seats; and nine standing countertop kiosks for those looking to charge a cell phone or take a quick break. “This seating was chosen to provide a variety of comfortable, single and group seats, (more…)

Dozens of major maintenance projects are underway this summer at Wesleyan. According to Roseann Sillasen, project manager for Physical Plant-Facilities, the renovations will affect several buildings on campus. The Davison Health Center is receiving a window restoration and solarium window replacement. The project includes restoration of existing wood sashes with new insulated glass to match current historic profiles. Several wood-framed student homes are receiving upgrades. 132 High Street, 84 Home Avenue, 118 Knowles Avenue and 10 Fountain Avenue are receiving kitchen and bathroom renovations, electrical upgrades, interior paint, floor finishes and porch work. The Sign House, at 64 Lawn Avenue is…

Gov. Dannel Malloy, Middletown Mayor Daniel Drew, and other state and local officials were on hand March 6 to help Wesleyan celebrate and power up its new microgrid project, the first project to come online under the inaugural round of Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation statewide microgrid pilot program. The group gathered in the lobby of the Freeman Athletic Center, near the site of Wesleyan’s 676 kW natural gas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) reciprocating engines. Using oversized shears, they cut a red ribbon, and Malloy used a computer to start the engines. The generator package will deliver 4,700 mWh annually. In the…

From Sept. 18-26, Wesleyan's Jewish community will observe the holiday of Sukkot by living, studying, holding classes, meditating, eating and socializing in a structure made completely of bamboo and steel rods. On Sept. 9-11, four members of Wesleyan's Physical Plant staff worked full days to assemble the massive temporary structure on the lawn of Olin Library. (more…)

While students are away, there's no time for play, if you're on the Physical Plant – Facilities staff. "The day students move out of their campus residences, we get to work," said Roseann Sillasen, associate director and project manager for Physical Plant - Facilities. "We get as many projects done as possible while students and faculty are away for the summer." Summer projects began early with replacement of the 22-year-old Andersen track at the Freeman Athletic Center. The project included an installation of a new synthetic turf field for inclement-weather games and practice field, taking pressure off the grass practice fields…

Wesleyan’s Microgrid Project – which would allow the university to keep the lights on even during a massive power outage – was one step closer to reality last week with the award of a state grant for work on a specialized engine. The grant, for $694,000, will pay to connect Wesleyan’s natural gas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) reciprocating engines to the campus electrical grid. “The new microgrid will supply power to the campus 24-7,” said Joyce Topshe, associate vice president for facilities. “In the event of a power outage, the microgrid will power the campus in 'island mode,' enhancing…

Q: Chris, you're the new manager of fire safety and facilities administration for Physical Plant - Facilities. When did you come to Wesleyan and what were you hired to do? A: I began here as an intern on the renovation of Clark Hall in 2001 working for Lee Kennedy Company. I became a full-time employee at Wesleyan in April 2003, hired as an assistant facility manager for student life facilities. Q: How has your role changed over the years? A: My role has changed several times here at Wesleyan. My career started as an assistant facility manager; from there I became…

Four Physical Plant-Facilities staff received a Cardinal Achievement Award in December. They are: Mike Conte, assistant director of mechanical trades; Dean Canalia, plumbing shop foreperson; Sean Kane, utility mechanic; and Philip Cotharin, temperature controls mechanic and EMS specialist. The staff members were honored for demonstrating extraordinary initiative or providing outstanding service with regard to specific tasks in their department. This special honor comes with a $150 award and reflects the university’s gratitude for those extra efforts. The award recipients are nominated by department chairs and supervisors. Nominations can be made anytime throughout the year. For more information or to nominate…

On Dec. 28, 2012 Wesleyan's Physical Plant-Facilities staff scheduled a power-generation test at Wesleyan's Central Power Plant. The team forced a campus-wide power outage to test and refine an "island mode" process to power critical loads on campus by running the natural gas-fired co-generation equipment without any synchronization with the local electrical utility. Wesleyan performed this test under controlled circumstances with a team of technicians, engineers and electricians on site to develop procedures that will be implemented during an emergency with a much smaller staff of campus operations personnel. (more…)

David Hall, grounds and events manager, received a Cardinal Achievement Award in August. Hall was honored for demonstrating extraordinary initiative or providing outstanding service with regard to specific tasks in his department. This special honor comes with a $150 award and reflects the university’s gratitude for those extra efforts. The award recipients are nominated by department chairs and supervisors. Nominations can be made anytime throughout the year. For more information or to nominate a staff member for the award, visit the Human Resources website and scroll down to Cardinal Achievement Award under “Forms.” Recipients will continue to be recognized in The Wesleyan Connection.

College Row Receives Safer Sidewalk Replacement

Exley Offers New Study Space for Students

Construction, Campus Renovations Ongoing this Summer

Steam Pipe Construction Ongoing Throughout Summer

Governor Helps “Power Up” Wesleyan’s New Microgrid Project

Bamboo WesSukkah to House Jewish Community During Sukkot, Sept. 18-26

Physical Plant Staff Spearheading Summer Campus Renovations, Projects

Microgrid will Supply Power to Campus During Power Outage

Cruz Teaches, Promotes Fire Safety at Wesleyan

Conte, Canalia, Kane, Cotharin Honored with Cardinal Achievement Awards

Off the Grid: Physical Plant Tests the University’s In-House Power Generation

Hall Receives Cardinal Achievement Award