Wharton gets breath of fresh air

Students who attend classes in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall can now breathe a little easier, thanks to a recent overhaul of the building's ventilation system. The Wharton Undergraduate Dean's Advisory Board recommended the duct replacement project to prevent overheating in the building --largely due to the constantly operational computer labs in the basement. Creating a way to cool down the labs was at the top of a list of "quality-of-life" and short-term facilities improvement suggestions from the board -- a group of 15-20 students which meets monthly with Wharton Dean Tom Gerrity. A committee of two undergraduates, three MBA students and administrators from both divisions met with Gerrity and Wharton Facilities Coordinator Peter Weeks to discuss the problem. Analysis of the air pathways found that the two labs were "starved for fresh air" and the "system of rolling cools" was not working, according to Weeks. Wharton senior William Byers, a member of the committee, noted that temperatures in some classrooms approached 100 degrees during the late spring and summer, and classes were often cancelled as a result. "[The computers] acted as little heaters which basically blew away the cooling system," he added. Renovations to the ventilation system began after classes ended in May, and they continued throughout the summer. Although Weeks would not release specific monetary figures, saying the project is still underway, he indicated that the renovations are close to budget. Replacing the ducts will be less expensive than increasing capacity or installing a new chilled line, he added, noting that the total expected costs will represent only one-third of the seven-digit figure that the other solutions would demand. Overall, Weeks said the cost was "not minor, but it's money extremely well spent? It takes what was here up to modern standards." Yesterday morning, as part of the project's final phase, crews ripped out the huge, clunky cooling units -- looking like a cross between a basement water heater and space junk -- from the smaller computer lab. With the removal of the units, the temperature in room 114 now registers a comfortable 55 degrees, Weeks said. The difference is noticeable. Byers said that 10-degree difference in classrooms should cause less sleepiness and "fewer sticky T-shirts." When the project is complete, Room 114 will also feature outside "e-mail bars" -- another recommendation from the committee. In a related initiative, Wharton Graduate Association chair Cathy Taylor, a committee member, said additional workgroup computer stations were added to the Zellen Lounge in Vance Hall. Byers said he was "amazed how seriously" Gerrity took student suggestions, as well as impressed with the administrators' responsiveness so far. "People in charge really know what they're doing," he added.