Chester Upland School of Art (CUSA) (ESSER III September 30, 2024) estimated $2.6M soft/hard cost w/environmental. Anticipated start (TBD), completion date September 30, 2024

Building Description - CUSA Is a Pre-K to 5 school, originally built in 1918, a three-story flagstone brick facade building with a wood framed and concrete structure and foundations that was most recently renovated in 2000. The building is approx. 104 years old and was last renovated some 22 years ago.

The CUSD General conditions report from November/2021 states that the masonry of the main building is generally in very good condition. The HVAC upgrades included in this grant is a chiller replacement that will unquestionably help with improving the buildings air quality. Our goal with ESSER III funds is to make a HVAC upgrade to the antiquated cooling system that will require the upgrading of the old and outdated chiller and possible classroom unit-ventilators throughout.

With this planned improvement, the buildings air-conditioning issues, and air-changes per hour (ach) will dramatically improve. However, this singular improvement and upgrade to the HVAC system is part major upgrade that will start moving in the building in the correct directions as the CUSD looks to improve on the air quality and balancing of the buildings air-quality conditions that has plague the CUSA building for some time.

Lastly, at CUSA, our goal for the added ESSER III funds will be to completely upgrade all the windows. The current old and inoperable windows don’t fully function throughout the entire building, which hinders natural fresh air traveling throughout the school that could increase or better the air-quality in the school building. 

Original Scope of work:

1. Chiller Replacement
2. Window Replacement
3. Environmental work @ windows
4. Paint all new work

With these upgrades, we will:

1. Improves air quality throughout the school
2. Improves the filter rates for the HVAC systems to a MERV-8
3. Improves and increases air changes per hour (ACH)
4. Improves the overall ventilation
5. Equalized heating and air conditioning with the building automated systems (BAS)
6. Improves window operation and building envelop or R-Value (Insulation of the building will dramatically be enhanced)

STEM at Showalter (ESSER III September 30, 2024) estimated original scope $1.3M soft/hard cost. Anticipated start (TBD), completion date September 30, 2024

Building Description - built in 1957, two story 7-12th grade school with brick and curtain wall window members used for the structure and façade, with steel framing structural members (walls and roofing included).

The school building was most recently renovated in 1966 when they installed two custom built multi-zone air-handlers, then again in 2010 when they install a cooling tower and a building automated control system (BAS).  Fast forward to 2021, the old antiquated HVAC system and air-handlers don’t meet the minimal requirements of the current building size and capacity of children and staff for air changes per hour (ACH), fresh air intake and ventilation, etc.   

During our investigation, we identified several major concerns surrounding air changes per hour, ventilation, and fresh air intakes. We located several fresh air dampers that were either broken or inoperable. The ventilation systems and/or classroom unit ventilators dampers didn’t work adequately and where seized closed or seized 100% open. The air changes per hour should meet approx. 10-12 ACH per child, currently we stand at an estimated 3-4 ACH per child which is vastly inadequate in numerous areas of the schools classrooms, common areas and meeting spaces.    

Additionally, during the last upgrade in the building, we noticed that no commissioning or balancing had been completed for the current multi-zone air-handlers which is creating an unbalanced system with cooling and heating. We’re currently experiencing classrooms and common areas that either have, or don’t have proper heating or cooling at various times throughout the school year.

To that end, the current HVAC systems (mechanicals & heating) are antiquated for the school building. Our goal for these ESSER funds will be to completely replace and upgrade the buildings obsolete heating and cooling systems with a state-of-the-art HVAC system that may require the replacing of the following pieces of equipment.

Original Scope of Work:

1. Air-Handlers
2. Cooling Tower (optional upgrade to DX or DOAS units)
3. Boilers (optional, repair/replace)  

With these upgrades, it will significantly improve/enhance on the following building conditions,

1. Improve air quality
2. Improve and increase the filter rates for the HVAC systems to a MERV-8
3. Increase and improve air changes per hour (ACH)
4. Improve the overall ventilation
5. Equalize heating and air conditioning with balancing and commissioning
6. Improve building temperatures and conditions 

Toby Farms Intermediate School (grades 6th -8th) (ESSER III September 30, 2024) estimated original scope $7.3M soft/hard cost. Anticipated start (TBD), completion date September 30,2024

Building Description - built in 1963, two story brick façade building with steel structure. The building is nearly 58 years old and was last renovated in 2000.  It has been nearly 22 years since the last minor renovation was completed. Our goal for these ESSER III funds will be to completely equip the building with a new Electrical service that will support the new HVAC systems, curtain wall-window systems, LED lighting, etc. throughout the school.

Additionally, all of the upgrades above will tremendously improve on the air-changes per-hour and ventilation in every classroom throughout, and will directly improve the overall indoor air quality of the school along with improving on several cosmetic interior enhancements due to the window and HVAC upgrades and replacements.

Original Scope of work and estimated cost associated $7.3M soft/hard cost:

1. Curtain wall window upgrade
2. Electrical Upgrade
3. HVAC complete upgrade (Boilers, Unit-Ventilators, Chiller or RTU’s supporting VAV’s or air-handlers)
4. All new Classroom acoustical ceilings and LED lights upgrades

These upgrades will improve on the following building conditions:

1. Improve air quality
2. Improve air
3. Improve filter rates for HVAC to possibly MERV-8
4. Improve ACH (air changes per hour)
5. Improve the overall building ventilation
6. Equalize HVAC systems
7. Remove several environmental issues and concerns (Lead and ACM)
8. Improve building envelop and R-Value
9. Paint all new work
10. Improve lighting (LED lighting upgrade)

Main Street Elementary (grades K-5) (ESSER III September 30, 2024) estimated original scope $5.7M soft/hard cost. Anticipated start (TBD), completion date September 30,2024 (Project On-Hold)

Building Description - Built in 1954 and appears to have the original window systems that were installed during the original construction of the school. Over the past several decades advancement in glazing technology has created windows that have increased thermal efficiency (R value), solar shading, and security enhancements including security films. For this project, the existing window and storefront window assemblies will be removed, and any/all environmentally regulated material will be disposed of in the appropriate manner.

Additional renovations that where being considered was the upgrading of new ceilings, floors, casework, sills, and a full HVAC upgrade to the school. The new window will be a multi-pane aluminum windows and storefront window assemblies will be installed with operable sections in classrooms for ventilation and window shades for sunlight control.

Original Scope of work and estimated cost associated $5.7M soft/hard cost:

1. Window upgrade
2. Electrical Upgrade
3. HVAC complete upgrade (Boilers, Unit-Ventilators, Chiller or RTU’s supporting VAV’s or air-handlers)
4. All new Classroom acoustical ceilings and LED lights upgrades, ETC.
5. Paint all new work
6. Fire Alarm and all Low Voltage upgrades

These upgrades will improve on the following building conditions:

1. Improve all life and safety systems (low voltage systems)
2. Improve air quality (ACH)
3. Improve air
4. Improve filter rates for HVAC to possibly MERV-8
5. Improve ACH (air changes per hour)
6. Improve the overall building ventilation
7. Equalize and/or Balance the HVAC systems
8. Removes several environmental issues and concerns (Lead and ACM)
9. Improve building envelop and R-Value