Early Bird

Steam to Natural Gas Conversion update

The Auraria Campus project remains on schedule to be complete at the end of September.

By Lindsey Coulter

September 1, 2020

The Auraria Campus Steam to Natural Gas Conversion project is on schedule to be complete at the end of September.

Hot-water service was restored to nearly all campus buildings before the beginning of classes, exceptions being the west wing of the Science Building and Cherry Creek building due to delayed meter installations by Xcel Energy. Service has since been restored.

Building heat is not scheduled to be restored campuswide until mid-September. Heat may be on at the earlier dates shown, but the entire system will be going through commissioning and testing through mid-September. The contractor will be able to heat the buildings should cold temperatures arrive earlier.

Other impacts

Tivoli Commons:

Work will continue for approximately two weeks to repair an irrigation mainline near the Quad. 

Boulder Creek:

Boiler startup activities are complete, and system commissioning is scheduled for Sept. 11. Crews are now focused on finishing touches such as fire caulking.

Plaza:

Work will continue on the interior landing from the Penthouse to the third floor, and the stairwell now in fabrication will be installed over a weekend to avoid further impacts. Boiler startup activities are complete, and system commissioning is scheduled for Sept. 11. Crews are now focused on finishing touches such as fire caulking.

PE:

Boiler startup activities are complete, and a new staircase will be installed by mid-September to replace the temporary staircase. System commissioning is scheduled for Thursday.

Arts:

Boiler startup activities are complete. The contractor is completing finishing details such as fire caulking and painting the mechanical room on the first floor. System commissioning is scheduled for Sept. 23.

Central Classroom:

Boiler startup activities are complete. Crews are now focused on finishing touches such as fire caulking. System commissioning is scheduled for Sept. 23.

West Classroom:

Boiler startup activities are complete. New compressors will be installed the weekend of Sept. 12. System commissioning is scheduled for Sept. 23 based on new pump delivery.

Cherry Creek:

A temporary stair tower will remain in place until Sept. 10. System commissioning is scheduled for Sept. 23. Work on the building should be completed by Sept. 29.

Science:

Work will include continued piping, wiring and insulation installation in the Mechanical Room through early September. Concrete exterior stairs have been poured, and new railings for an additional Mechanical Room exit will be installed soon. Phase II work on the Vivarium will begin later this month. Building users should anticipate a gas outage Sept. 11-12 affecting the Bunsen burners. Phase III will convert the final steam connection in late September. Work on the building should be completed by Sept. 29.