Amid all the beautiful new buildings on the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus, it’s easy to see how the Central Utilities Plant (CUP) might have a bit of an inferiority complex.
Located in the heart of the campus across the street from the Lied Transplant Center, parts of the CUP — a collection of six different units — date back to 1919.
As you’ve probably noticed, there has been lots of construction activity taking place at the CUP over the past few months.
The 98-year-old facility that provides utilities for the entire campus is getting a bit of a facelift.
“We’re putting a modern look on an old building,” said Darren Dageforde, executive director of utilities and energy utilization in the UNMC Department of Facilities, Management and Planning.
The CUP’s appearance hasn’t changed dramatically, Dageforde said, but it has gotten a new roof and windows. In addition, the medical liquid oxygen storage unit in front of the CUP has been removed and replaced with two new units located behind the Durham Research Center II and the Academic and Research Services building.
Installing the new roof was an engineering feat, Dageforde said, as the utilities equipment inside the building had to continue to operate throughout the construction.
To accomplish this, workers had to build a false roof under the existing roofline of the main building, which includes 5,000 square feet.
The new roof assembly — a modern, steel structure — had to be constructed in the parking lot on the west side of the building and then raised into place. It replaced a wood-frame, shingled roof that had been on the building since 1946. The wood truss system was relocated to UNMC from an abandoned WWII munitions facility near Hastings, Neb.
The double-pane, plate glass windows also are a major upgrade over the single pane window squares that were original to the building addition, Dageforde said. The new windows, along with brick repair and restoration, really modernize the façade while allowing a glimpse into the heartbeat of the campus utility infrastructure, he added.
In Phase II of the renovations, the building will get fire safety upgrades, including installation of a fire alarm system and the addition of several firewalls that will compartmentalize the building. This will take place over the next six to eight months.
Amazingly, Dageforde said, when you get past the aging exterior, inside the CUP resides “one of the more sophisticated power systems in the country.”
Not bad for 98.
Thanks for this nice story, Tom! I'd been curious about what they were doing.
The building looks great! Thanks for doing this story Tom!