Situation
Originally constructed in 1927, Saint Joseph’s University’s Barbelin / Lonergan Hall is one of the school’s most recognizable features. After 90 years as a dorm and academic building, the iconic Hall is now exclusively used by the College of Arts & Sciences. After all this time, upgrades to the building’s mechanical systems became necessary. That is when JJ White Inc. was brought in to perform a full mechanical systems renovation and upgrade.
Challenges
The advanced timeline and large project scope were two factors that made this project challenging for everyone involved. The renovations and upgrades had to be completed over the University’s summer break to ensure the least disruption possible to classes and school events. The age of the building also played a factor when crews had to work around outdated equipment and materials.
Solutions
JJ White crews operated on a stringent schedule that ensured the completion of the project before the start of the school year. There was an initial demo phase of the existing steam-fed radiation system before the building was taken off the University’s steam loop entirely. After that, JJ White crews installed hot water fed panel radiators and convectors to the Hall. 14 air handling units, 16 variable air volume boxes, and 4 split systems were also installed at this time. Part of the renovation included cosmetic upgrades such as lighting and refinishing of wooden benches. The final part of the project tied all of the systems at Barbelin / Lonergan into the University’s Building Automation Systems for maximum efficiency.
Results
St. Joseph’s University Arts & Sciences students returned to their home at Barbelin / Lonergan Hall in time for the Fall 2017 semester. JJ White crews successfully completed the most extensive summer break project in the University’s history on-time and on-budget. We are proud to work alongside this prestigious institution of higher learning.