TYLER RESEARCH CENTER OPENING

Pittsburg State University held the dedication for the new Tyler Research Center on Friday, September 21, 2007.  The Physical Plant had a major role in ensuring the building, grounds and set up was ready for this great event.  It takes much coordination between many different groups and good employees to ensure events like this happen.

Construction on the building began in June of 2006 and has been a major project which has included every department within the Physical Plant, as well as, numerous other departments on campus.  Although work continues on the building, here is a portion of the work performed at this time by the Physical Plant.

• The carpentry department built shelving units for the chemical storage room and designed and built the podium and the multi-media cabinet for the conference room.  They constructed work bench cabinetry in the work room and built shelving for the custodial closet and office.  They installed paper towel dispensers in all the labs, as well as the flagpole at the entrance of the building.  The carpentry department also assisted the general services department in setting up the stage, chairs and flag poles for the dedication.

• The paint department finished the chemical storage shelving units, the podium and multi-media cabinet for the conference room.  They also touched up numerous areas inside the building to make sure the building looked its best for the first time visitors.

• The plumbing department designed and installed the lawn irrigation system and repaired a major water leak on the south side of the building.

• The landscape department had to re-grade and prep the entire site for sod placement and landscaping.  They monitored the installation of sod by an outside contractor and planted all the trees, shrubs and flowers and placed mulch in all beds on the site.  They also brush-hogged the site that was not put in sod and cleaned off dirt and debris from the parking lots and roads to make sure it looked good for the ceremony.

• The electrical department installed a new receptacle for a light in the display case for the 2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award and new electrical receptacles for the refrigerator and freezer in the chemical storage area.  They also installed lights for the flagpole and are currently installing new light switches in all rooms that did not have them originally installed.

• The environmental department did a complete inventory of chemicals and is actively creating an electronic inventory control system for all chemicals which will allow quick time access for all chemical MSDS information.  They also assisted in moving chemicals and equipment from Shirk Hall to the new Tyler Research Center.

• The H.V.A.C. department worked diligently with the contractor on some chiller problems to ensure the chiller would be running properly and that the building was cooled for the dedication.  They also installed two ice machines.

• The electronics department did numerous dig safe checks for the plumbing, electrical and landscape departments.  They worked with Honeywell on the Energy Management System/Fire Alarm and Security System and programmed outside night lights.  They also set up the podium and public address system for the dedication. 

• The custodial staff stocked the building with all needed supplies and assisted with the purchasing of specialty items needed.  They cleaned the entire building in preparation for the dedication, which required several late-night hours to complete.

• The General Services staff moved furniture and equipment from Shirk Hall to the new Tyler Research Center and assisted with the unloading of new shipments.  They also delivered and helped set up the stage, chairs, and flags for the ceremony.

• The storeroom ordered and organized supplies and various goods needed to complete a successful start up of our new building.  Extensive research into these products was required to provide the proper supplies needed.

• The office staff worked many hours tracking materials and costs associated with bringing the new building into service.

• The Power Plant ensured the building boiler systems met the required standards needed prior to the building start up.

• The Vehicle Maintenance staff kept all our equipment in good working order to ensure all projects could be completed on time for our dedication.

We would like to thank all our employees for their hard work, long hours, and dedication to this project.  Also, we would like to thank our University community for their involvement in this project.  A special thanks to the rest of our staff whose hard work kept our University operating smoothly during this event.