Add as a preferred source on Google

Purdue University

  • 03/01/15

Project Snapshot

PROJECT: Hicks Library
INSTITUTION: Purdue University
LOCATION: West Lafayette, IN
COMPANY NAME: Connectrac
WEBSITE: www.connectrac.com

THE CHALLENGE

Since 1998, Advanced Engineering Consultants (AEC) has provided quality engineering design services through creative thinking and stellar customer service. Their reputation preceded them when they were hired on to design the power and data distribution within the Hicks Undergraduate Library at Purdue University.

For over 30 years, the Hicks Library has served as a primary outlet for student research and study. Aspiring to create a more active learning environment, Purdue University looked to AEC to design computer stations and study tables with technological access non-adjacent to the library’s walls and columns. The big challenge for the project would be figuring out how to configure power and A/V connectivity throughout the workspace compatible with the library’s layout.

The job required extensive installation to be completed without disturbing the highly populated area. Core drilling or trenching caused too much of an intrusion to students and faculty as well as being unadaptable if the library needed future renovations.

Purdue University

Purdue University

The big challenge inherent in a technology upgrade to Hicks Library on the campus of Purdue University was figuring out how to configure power and A/V connectivity throughout the workspace that would be compatible with the library’s layout. With Connectrac’s ultra-low-profile wireways, the project was completed quickly and efficiently while maintaining the integrity of the library.

THE SOLUTION

In preparation for the installation, AEC discovered that Connectrac’s ultra-low-profile wireways could merge seamlessly with the library’s layout. With Connectrac In-Carpet Wireway, AEC could provide a quick and efficient installation while maintaining the integrity of the library. “The Wireway’s slim profile and design aesthetic was compatible with the direction of the project,” says Dan James, project manager and senior electrical designer at AEC.

AEC also used Connectrac’s 12-foot wall channel to travel up each column in the library to ensure power and A/V access to every workstation.

“Overall, the solution Connectrac provided was much better than the visual clutter power/data poles would have created within the space,” adds Jeremy Hatfield, principal of AEC. “It will be a future ‘go to’ solution.” A new standard in power and technology connectivity has been set through Connectrac ultra-low-profile wireways.

IMPACT ON LEARNING

Advanced Engineering Consultants completed the project without a hitch. Thanks to their work along with the use of Connectrac wireways, Hicks Library increased productivity and connectivity while keeping an elegant, simple aesthetic. “There was much to work around in Advanced Engineering’s project,” says Steve Batchelder, Connectrac’s director of sales. “But finding the new standard in connectivity in Connectrac, they were able to accomplish the installation without disturbing student workflow or having to change the layout of the library.” No longer are universities tied down with expensive and irreplaceable core drilling or unsightly power poles when retrofitting their campus for technology.

Editor's Review

Amid restricted budgets and increased scrutiny on rising costs, colleges and universities must allocate their resources carefully while continuing to offer the best educational quality to students. They must also stay abreast of technology. This retrofit project at Purdue University’s Hicks Undergraduate Library took into account budget and technology, and also resulted in a low-impact interruption to both the facility and daily operations. The result is a much-improved space for students.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Geometrik

    Armstrong World Industries, designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications like ceilings, walls, and metal solutions, recently announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik, according to a news release. The British Columbian Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

  • Delta State University Completes Renovations to School of Nursing Facilities

    Delta State University recently completed a major expansion and renovation project for the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing facilities on its campus in Cleveland, Miss., according to a news release. The project includes about 14,000 square feet of new construction and more than 21,000 square feet of renovation work to the existing space.

  • Los Angeles City College Breaks Ground on New Administration, Workforce Building

    Los Angeles City College (LACC) in Los Angeles, Calif., recently broke ground on a new $72-million administrative facility, according to a news release. The Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building will stand four stories, cover 67,230 square feet, and play home to a wide variety of the school’s educational and administrative services.

Digital Edition