Page 73 - spaces4learning, Fall 2023

ENABLING THE
FUTURE OF
THE CAMPUS
EXPERIENCE
Infrastructure Renewal and Modernization at The University of New Hampshire
By Elizabeth Nolder, Brad Charters, and Michael Bean
UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES are mak- ing bold moves to energize enrollments––from grade-based admissions guarantees and standardized testing alternatives to on-campus housing assurances and impressive amenities. For many institutions, these incentives are often matched by new, state-of-the-art academic buildings and research facilities. However, a majority of those same universities are sitting on de- cades-old infrastructure networks buried beneath their sprawl- ing grassy quads and cobblestone pathways. A university can't rank for research without reliable, stable power, and prospective students. Potential new students can’t take a tour of a green that’s fenced off because of an underground steam failure.
As administrators look to the future of the campus experience, they must first understand and account for the importance of cam- pus utility renewal projects––engaging with skilled engineers to assess the conditions and capacities of the current infrastructure and roadmap investments to fortify the campus for centuries to come. If planned and phased properly, modernization can occur with minimal student life disruption and potentially even along- side above-ground additions if designed intentionally. Most impor- tantly, a reliable, safe, and efficient infrastructure network ensures that the academic mission and vision are not sacrificed––which, after all, is what students are enrolling for at the end of the day.
This strategy for campus renewal and modernization was top of mind for the University of New Hampshire (UNH) as it embarked on one of its most significant infrastructure improve- ments in recent history––relocating a substantial portion of its utility distribution network connected to the Combined Heat & Power Plant (CHP).
Modernization: Laying the Groundwork
UNH established its Durham campus in 1893 and has grown from an enrollment of less than 100 to over 15,000 in the years since. Its utility network has evolved alongside it, distributed through a series of underground tunnels and direct buried piping that feeds campus buildings. Over time, the structural integri-
PHOTO COURTESY OF RMF ENGINEERING
ty of these tunnels can deteriorate, creating risks for the utility services within them, as well as the roads and walkways above them. Knowing this, in 2020, UNH engaged RMF Engineering to complete a condition assessment of a portion of the campus' tunnels, which revealed sections of deterioration that could im- pact the reliability of the active utilities if left unaddressed.
Leveraging its experience in unique underground utility distribution systems and in-depth knowledge of the challenges and considerations associated with working on a college cam- pus, RMF derived from its assessment the full spectrum of re- pairs required and the associated costs, presenting UNH with a complex mix of findings and options for upgrading the existing infrastructure. Ultimately, the university opted to abandon a portion of the tunnel beneath an older structure already slated for demolition and relocated the active utilities in direct bur- ied piping in a new parallel location. This approach introduced complexities at every stage, requiring a highly coordinated, phased plan executed by an expert team.
Providing civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical de- sign and construction administration services for the reloca- tion, RMF worked closely with Charters Brothers Construction (CBC)––which has managed and completed numerous utility projects for UNH over the years––to navigate each challenge while minimizing the impact on campus. RMF and CBC's careful phasing of the project remained agile throughout the process, adapting to situations as they arose, including navigat- ing challenging site logistics, product lead time delays, safety requirements, and student life considerations.
The Campus-Scale of Impact
The significance of this particular project for UNH was due in large part to the sheer scale of its footprint. RMF's new under- ground utility design was situated beneath the heart of UNH's Durham campus and included over 800 linear trench feet of steam, condensate, dual temperature water supply and return, and a concrete encased duct bank to replace a critical section of the
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