Project moving ahead to beat reopening of Campuses and Centers and deal with Covid-19

Yavapai Community College is moving ahead quickly to achieve its goal of becoming a “touchless campus.”  The goal is to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 among students, staff, faculty and visitors. 

Listed below are some of the efforts being made as described by Scott Blevins, the Facilities Manager, Plant & Process Engineer.

1. Restrooms with doors that pull inward now have a foot pull if you would like to avoid touching the handle.
2. Approximately 75% of toilet and urinal flush valves are now touchless.
3. Touchless faucet installation is just getting underway.
4. Touchless paper towel dispensers are due in July and installation will start shortly after arrival.
5. Hand sanitizer stations are slowly coming in and will start getting installed over the next few weeks, starting with locations that have in-person classes planned for the fall semester.
6. Purchasing some of the first continuously Self-Cleaning Surface products for various applications including:
   1. NanoSeptic door handle wraps for entrances at high use public buildings.
   2. NanoSeptic touch screen covers for spaces that are open in the fall.
   3. NanoSeptic mouse pads

According to Mr. Bevens, the College “approved the ordering and installation of NanoSeptic Self-Cleaning Surface products for various applications. We are purchasing door handle wraps for entrances at high use public buildings, touch screen covers for spaces that are open in the fall, and mousepads for the computer commons and libraries. “NanoSeptic Skins and Mats turn dirty, high traffic, public touchpoints into continuously self-cleaning surfaces. Powered by light, NanoSeptic surfaces utilize mineral nanocrystals, which create a powerful oxidation reaction. Working 24/7, the surface continually oxidizes organic contaminants. Unlike traditional disinfectants and cleaners, the NanoSeptic surface uses no poisons, heavy metals or chemicals, and nothing is released from the surface since the nano-crystals are molecularly bonded to the material.”

Should be ready for fall classes

Construction crews are nearing completion of the Career and Technical Education manufacturing section of Building “L” on the Verde Campus in Clarkdale.  Although most of the newly remodeled building is given over to healthcare training, there is one section set aside for Career and Technical Education in what the College describes as the advanced manufacturing area.

Construction on the section should be completed by the beginning of the fall 2020 semester.

Posted below is a photo of the construction (from June Facilities Management Newsletter) as of June 2020.  Also posted below is an advertisement from last year of a Community College advertisement (from Facebook)  suggesting the areas taught at the CTEC  College facility at the Prescott  airport that involved advanced manufacturing.

State-of-the-art space for music, design, acting, dance stagecraft and much more

Back in 2012 the Yavapai Community College Governing Board approved expending around $1.3 million on Campus development over a ten-year period.  At the time, over 95% of the expenditures were intended exclusively for improving Community College facilities located on the west side of the County.

 Over the years, the College reduced the amount it would spend to around $60 million but maintained focus on the west side facilities.  The Verde Valley was pretty much ignored.

 While the new administration under the direction of Dr. Lisa Rhine has taken a new and refreshing view of the Verde Valley and its resource needs , the decisions made since 2012 by former President Penelope Wills for developing the Prescott Campus and the facilities on the west side of the County are now completed or nearing completion.

 Two of those facilities are the Arts Department and upgrading the Performing Arts Center.  It  cost millions of dollars over the past decade to renovate and construct these new facilities. Most of the revenue to pay for these projects  came from all the taxpayers in the County via their primary taxes.  

A very short video tape (see below) released by the College shows off its new state-of-the-art Performing Arts Department space on the Prescott Campus. 

The Department will offer classes in its new space in choral and instrumental music, music theory, vocal and instrumental ensembles, costume and make up design, acting, musical theater, dance, stagecraft, and much more!  

Video copied from Yavapai Community College Facebook post (minor editing).

Preliminary grading, earth moving now underway

Construction has begun on the multi-use soccer field on the Prescott Campus.  Heavy grading equipment is being used to construct a 160’ x 230’ field.

All of the costs of the project, according to Yavapai College, are being paid by the Yavapai Community College Foundation. The field will be located to the north of Kachina Hall on the Prescott Campus.  (The Foundation is not reimbursing the College for any staff time associated with constructing the project.)

Goal is to have construction completed in next three months, if not sooner

Yavapai Community College is in the process of replacing the old, very small greenhouse that was removed as a part of summer construction.  It has also determined the new location for the new much larger replacement.

The new greenhouse is  18 by  48 feet.  It will be located between Buildings A and G on the Verde Campus.

Photo from June Facilities Management Newsletter.

Building on schedule for August opening achieving goal set by Dr. Rhine

Construction on Building “L” on the Verde Campus is nearing completion and will be ready by August.  This fulfills a promise made by Yavapai Community College President Lisa Rhine who months ago set fall 2020 as a deadline for renovation completion and reopening of the building.

The June 2020  Community College Facilities Management newsletter reported that lighting and acoustical tile are being installed throughout the building while painting and  drywall installation is complete. Data cabling is nearing completion as is  final floor polishing.

The exterior of Building “L”  is receiving texturing and painting while storefront glass is being installed in the new front entry. Concrete has been poured for new sidewalks and ramps and the landscaping has started. Facilities and ITS are  beginning to move  in  furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

Photos are from June 2020 Yavapai Community College Facilities Management Newsletter.

Pandemic has apparently not slowed efforts of  goal to get Building “L” ready by fall 2020

The April Yavapai Community College Facilities Management Newsletter reports that construction on Building “L” on the Verde Campus is moving ahead.  According to the report, a “ new roof is installed, and the building is very close to being completely dried in. Electrical transfer occurred during spring break, so the building is now tied into the campus with the new service. All structural steel for the new entrance is complete along with concrete and exterior walls. Painting of the exterior metal features is underway.”

The report goes on to say that “the interior of the building on the first floor, concrete polishing and staining is in process along with painting of walls and door jambs. Lighting is being installed throughout the first and second floors. On the second floor, drywall is nearing completion, and the walls are being prepped for paint.”

Source:  April 2020 Yavapai Community College Facilities Report.  All photos from report.

New 18’ x 48’ unit to be installed in three or four months

Yavapai Community College Facilities Management has reported in it’s April update that a location for a replacement greenhouse on the Verde Campus is under review.  The 18’ x 48’ unit is expected to be constructed on land between Buildings L and O (Southwest Wine Center) on the Verde Campus. Final construction is anticipated occurring in the next three or four months.

Source:  Yavapai Community College Facilities Management April newsletter (including above photo).