21st Century UConn

The 21st Century UConn initiative will extend and expand the unprecedented and extremely successful UCONN 2000 program. It will be an eleven-year program that adds $1 billion to continue the infrastructure improvements at University of Connecticut’s main campus in Storrs, the five Regional Campuses, and the School of Law. In addition, the initiative provides $300 million for infrastructure improvements at the UConn Health Center to support the medical and dental education programs, as well as research activities.

CLAC Renovation Bio-safety Level 3 Facility

The Center for Laboratory Animal Care (CLAC) facility is a 58,721 square foot building that was built in 1972 and provides space for offices and animal research laboratories. The facilities remain the same as when they were originally constructed and are in need of major renovations to bring them in line with current code and federal regulatory requirements for housing of research animals. Full compliance is critical to the Health Center's continued grant eligibility. As part of this project, the following would be included; upgrades of the HVAC system, lighting, power, replacement of lab casework, new flooring, and interior finishes.

Located within the CLAC building, a Bio-safety level 3 facility is planned. This facility will provide the UConn Health Center with the capability to conduct research involving bacterial agents that require maximum security. This facility will enable the UConn Health Center to secure research grants in areas that are experiencing significant federal funding increases. To provide space for this new program, 3,000 square feet of the existing CLAC space will be renovated. This project will require a stand-alone HVAC system and the installation of a negative pressure enclosure, plus modifications to the plumbing system.

In addition, this project will address all remaining security/ access control issues including comprehensive perimeter and internal/external security systems upgrades including card access, and closed circuit monitors with digital recording capacity. These improvements are critical to the security of our animal research, and, in fact, to the entire research enterprise as the upgrades are needed to maintain AAALAC accreditation (the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care).

Deferred Maintenance/Code/ADA/Renovation Lump Sum – Health Center

The University of Connecticut Health Center is a large modern complex, housing the University's School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, John Dempsey Hospital and related support services. It contains 2 million gross square feet in 35 buildings and is located on a 162 acre campus. It was designed and built in the mid 1960's.

Last year the Facilities Management Department conducted a Facility Condition Analysis of all buildings on campus. Also examined were the utilities infrastructure needs. The basis for this analysis was a physical inspection of each building and building systems. The analysis outcome was to identify those projects necessary to bring the facilities back to their original condition (utilizing current technology), while upgrading the appearance of the interiors and exteriors of the buildings without compromising the safety and welfare of the building components, or decreasing the overall life of the building and building systems. The analysis also identified all projects necessary to bring the facilities into compliance with ADA regulations and applicable life safety codes. In addition, the Health Center has secured the expertise necessary to develop a long-range facilities master plan; this effort is currently underway and should be completed by August 2002.

The majority of the identified needs result from insufficient deferred budgeted maintenance, required program and facility upgrades, and normal plant deterioration. The majority of the buildings on the Farmington campus are more than 30 years old and require upgrades to extend their life and meet code requirements. In general, projects fall into one or more of the following types of work:

• Roof and exterior repairs.
• Code required improvements.
• Building mechanical system improvements.
• Utilities repair and upgrades.
• Classroom renovations.
• Roads, walks and grounds.

Dental School Renovation

The School of Dental Medicine has facilities in the "C", "L", and "A" Buildings totaling 103,118 square feet. Most of these areas remain the same as when they were originally constructed in 1975 and are in need of major renovations to bring the facilities in line with current code and accreditation standards. It is extremely important that we have up-to-date facilities and equipment to properly train our students in the most modern dental techniques utilizing equipment that is appropriate for private practice, keeping in mind that the Health Center is the primary provider of new dentists for the entire state of Connecticut. This project would provide general renovation to all dental teaching and support space and the installation of new dental equipment to meet current and future needs.

Equipment, Library Collections and Telecommunications – Health Center

Funds are needed to support the Health Center's equipment, library collections and telecommunications infrastructure. Outmoded items must be replaced with equipment that is necessary to support research and instructional activities, maintain building compliance, conserve energy, and provide a safe environment for the students, staff, and hospital patients. It is essential that the equipment be current in the laboratories and student learning environments for the institution to remain competitive for research dollars and top faculty and students. Equipment startup packages are key elements in attracting talented new faculty to the Health Center.

Library acquisitions are also integral to the support of academics and research. The medical resources in the library require continued updating to ensure rapid access to all forms of printed and electronic documents.

Library/Student Computer Center Renovation

This project will address long-standing deficiencies within the 50,000 square foot medical library. The thirty-year-old library has had few upgrades to the layout or furnishings during this period and consequently, can no longer adequately meet the needs of the students, faculty and the general public. The existing space is poorly designed, and many areas do not meet ADA requirements. It contains no restroom facilities, has poor lighting, and does not provide the connectivity standards essential in an academic medical library facility. It is important to point out that the Health Center's library is the State's primary health resource for medical providers and the general public. This project will include the Electronic Reference Center and Classroom, which will provide computer workstations and network connections to accommodate Internet-based health information searches, instruction, and training. Rooms will be configured into 60 modular units so users can be separated into small working groups of 5 to 10, and a 24-hour study area will be provide for student and faculty use.

Integral to the project is a new Student Center facility. The Health Center Campus is a commuter student campus. The importance of student interaction in less formal ways is an important aspect of the learning experience and the Student Center would promote such interaction. The facility, along with a 24-hour study area, would provide a convenient location within the Health Center for students and faculty to meet, to socialize or to discuss classroom assignments. The space would provide 24-hour study rooms, a lounge area with recreational/physical fitness equipment, and men's and women's locker rooms with shower facilities.

Main Building Renovation

The Health Center's enormous main building includes access areas used by the general public as well as research, academic and clinical space. This renovation's primary focus would be the building's research facility, but would also include major systems and public areas. The 518,145 square foot Research Laboratory was built in the late 60's to provide laboratory and support areas for ongoing research programs. The facility consists of seven floors, which house over 200 research labs and support space, and five floors of mixed use that include classrooms, student support spaces, operations support and mechanical spaces. Over the life of the building no substantial renovations or upgrades have been undertaken.

The building's original design resulted in inefficient spaces that lack flexibility. In fact, the curved design makes virtually all renovation work more costly than otherwise would be the case. This project will provide for a total renovation and upgrade of the existing laboratories and offices and support areas to meet current and future needs. The renovations will provide new flexible, efficient research lab space. The labs will support the trend towards higher utilization of electronic technology within the labs and provide state of the art space to support high-level research for the University. The original heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems are outdated and require total replacement. Electrical systems also require replacement to support the increased electrical loads associated with medical research. Lighting systems will also require replacement and new fume hoods and flexible lab benches integral to the project.

Medical School Academic Building Renovation

Parking Garage – Health Center

The Master Plan activity has identified the need to build additional parking spaces to support our current parking needs and requirements to support future growth in research activity on the Health Center Campus.

Due to limited open space because of wetlands, severe topography, and current and future building sites, space for new surface parking is not available. In order to accommodate additional parking a new 700-space multi level-parking garage is proposed to be built on the Health Center Campus in proximity to the Main Health Center Complex on what is now a surface parking lot.

Research Tower

Support Building Addition/Renovation

The Health Center has a shortage of space available to expand current programs. This project would construct a 30,000 square foot addition to the existing support building and house administrative and other related functions that would be relocated from the Main Health Center Complex. This would free up valuable space in the Center Complex that could be used for expansion of current and future academic and research programs.

The existing Administrative Service Building contains 67,245 square feet and was built in 1989. It provides office space for administrative functions and computer center. This building has not had any major renovation since it was originally constructed. A general renovation of the building is required to meet its current use. As part of this renovation, the following would be included in the project scope:

• Upgrades to bring into compliance with ADA standards.
• Upgrades to lighting system.
• Roof replacement.
• Upgrades to elevators.
• Installation of new carpet.
• New wall finishes.
• Upgrades to restroom fixtures.
• Upgrades to HVAC system.
• Replacement of roof top air conditioning units.