The Los Medanos College library was serviced in the early morning on Friday, September 19, to repair his air conditioning and close for two hours while the crews worked with heavy equipment.
According to an e -mail by Jarrod Holcombe, director of maintenance and operation, the work required the use of a crane in the library. The Osha regulations that are prescribed that the building is not occupied during operation, which lasted from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Holcombe said that the library repairs were part of a larger project in which the math building was also involved.
“We are currently updating the building management systems for both mathematics and library buildings,” said Holcombe. “These upgrades improve the efficiency and control of our heating and cooling systems. As part of this project, we also deal with the HLK unit of the library, including the exchange of a failed compressor.”
He added that the work was planned in advance.
“The design for this project began at the beginning of this year, with construction started at the end of the last semester,” said Holcombe. “This time was intended to minimize the disorder of students and employees in the academic year.”
Bel Air Mechanical, the contractor set for the project, was responsible for replacing key equipment. Gabriel Galindez, a worker of the company who was on site, explained the role of the installed components.
“We were only contractual for the repair. We did not make the diagnosis,” said Galindez. “We brought compressors. This circulates the refrigerant within the system, which ultimately gives cooling comfort.”
The library has been exposed to ongoing temperature problems in recent years, which is partly due to its design. Large glass windows let sunlight pour into the building from the outer quad and generate uncomfortable warmth on warmer days. While the high ceilings make the room appear open and bright, most ventilation slots are near the ceiling and let students and employees cool unevenly under the floor.
As a result, the students complained that the library often feels either too hot or too cold. The recent works that replace the compressors that supply the HLK system with electricity are part of a greater exertion to improve the conditions in one of the most busiest academic rooms on the Pittsburg campus.
“The librarians trudge for the maintenance and HLK teams,” said librarian Kim Wentworth. “We want the library to be a pleasant welcome room for students.”
Since the repairs were completed before the building opened, only a few students or employees of the company were aware of. Currently, the updates are expected to make the library more consistent and reliable in the course of the semester.