UB spends between six and nine millions dollars every year to upgrade its residence halls, according to Michael R. Jacobs, the maintenance supervisor for the Ellicott Complex. This year, a portion of that money is being spent on upgrades for the complex, which include a new system of emergency generators.
Since Ellicott construction was completed in 1974, there have been seven diesel-powered generators supplying emergency power to each of Ellicott's six quads as well as the Millard Fillmore Academic Center (MFAC) in the event of a power outage.
As of this year, those seven smaller generators are being replaced with four generators that will each provide over twice as much power as before.
Instead of generators, Jacobs says, each quad will have its own switch to reroute power in the event of a power loss.
"In other words," he said, if one quad loses power, it will "run off the emergency generator." The other quads will continue to run regularly.
The new generators' larger size will also provide space for expected safety upgrades.
"Eventually, if the Ellicott Complex gets a fire protection system in it, meaning a sprinkler system... this generator is sized to also run the pumps," Jacobs said, adding that a new protection system would not refer to smoke detectors, which are already installed, along with heat detectors, throughout the area.
He also said that there is a modified version of a sprinkler system already installed in the garbage rooms and high-rise buildings of the complex.
The project started in September of last year; two of the generators are now up and servicing the Wilkeson, Fargo and Richmond Quads. The rest will be built this summer, and are expected to be completed by next year's winter recess.
Jacobs also discussed new units installed for the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system (HVAC). Like the generators, the HVAC units being replaced are also original equipment and date back to the complex's original construction.
Construction projects in the dormitories are done in phases, he said, instead of all at one time. According to Jacobs, it limits the total inconvenience to the residents and workers of Ellicott.
"We can't get everything done at one particular time without inconveniencing everybody," he said. "We have to do most of our projects in the summer, and that's the reason behind it. If we know we can not inconvenience the student population and office help during a certain time, we try to do the project during that time."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
