Contracts Awarded for Renovations at Klump Academic Center
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Construction contracts worth more than $9 million have been awarded to five Pennsylvania firms that will perform extensive renovations at the most historic building on the Pennsylvania College of Technology campus the Klump Academic Center. Two of the five awards, for more than $2.5 million, were to Williamsport-based companies.
The general contractor for the project at the circa-1913 facility will be Robert Feaster Corp. of Northumberland, which submitted a bid of $4.72 million.
Other contracts awarded were: HVAC, R&J Ertel Inc. of Williamsport, $1.69 million; plumbing, W.G. Tomko of Finleyville, $1.11 million; electrical, Lecce Electric Inc. of Williamsport, $854,000; and controls, Johnson Controls Inc. of Camp Hill, $632,000.
The renovation project, which will begin next month, is expected to take two years to complete, with the building at least partially occupied throughout that time.
Murray Associates Architects of Harrisburg will serve as the architect for the project, which includes converting former offices which have been moved to the new Student and Administrative Services Center to classrooms and faculty offices. Student work areas will be provided adjacent to faculty offices, and seminar and small-group study areas will be added.
Other areas receiving attention will be the front entrance, which will get new front steps, masonry and paving, and the first- and second-floor lobbies. The exterior brick-and-stone surfaces will be cleaned, and the grounds will receive new exterior lighting and additional landscaping.
The renovated building will comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and new fire-alarm and fire-suppression/sprinkler systems will be installed. The entire structure will be upgraded to meet existing building codes.
New plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems will be installed, and the current rest rooms will be replaced. The interior will be painted, and new carpeting will be installed. In addition, the International Cafe dining unit will be expanded.
The Klump Academic Center was constructed in 1913 as the Williamsport High School. It once housed the area's first adult vocational-training programs, which became the basis for the founding of Penn College forerunners Williamsport Technical Institute and Williamsport Area Community College.
The work is being financed by a 30-year, $31.6 million bond issue. Also being financed by the bond issue are the construction of Rose Street Apartments, a 365-bed, on-campus student-housing complex; and the renovation of College Avenue Labs (the former HON Industries Inc. manufacturing plant), which will house the Collision Repair, Automated Manufacturing, Civil Engineering and Surveying programs. Both facilities will open in August.