Overview

 

Drexel University is a private research university with its 74-acre main campus located in Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist, the University is known for its unique model of experiential education that combines classroom learning with one of the nation’s premier cooperative education programs. Its 25,000 students make it one of America’s 15 largest private institutions.

Building upon a recently completed Facility Condition Assessment of the University’s Greek Houses, Entech was engaged to assess ten additional buildings so the University could understand their condition and needs and actively plan and budget to maintain them. Facilities included all undergraduate student housing facilities and Ross Commons, a student center that is home to dining services, lounges, game rooms and study areas as well as a computer lab, meeting space, and offices.

 

 

The ten campus buildings evaluated encompassed more than 1.1M sq. ft. Our team carefully surveyed each facility, identifying and prioritizing repairs and improvements as well as quantifying the aggregate cost of deferred maintenance and capital renewal liabilities and projecting costs over a ten year period.

Improvements included electrical systems, primarily lighting upgrades, as well as fire alarm replacements, HVAC upgrades, interior finishes and floor repairs, envelope repairs, and addressing older plumbing systems. Projects were ranked from immediate needs to low priorities to aid the University in planning and budgeting for improvement projects.

The most immediate needs included commissioning studies to determine the best alternatives to address obsolete fire and electrical systems in one building and to determine the appropriate method to remediate water infiltration in another.

High priorities included the installation of collapsible thresholds in newly renovated ADA barrier-free showers to keep water from leaking and ponding onto the bathroom floors. This simple solution maintains ADA compliance while preventing future costly repairs from inevitable water damage.

Data gathered during this and previous assessments is stored in FM-Assistant, Entech’s customizable software that allows the University to view, manage, and update their data as projects are completed or reprioritized. Administrators and staff are equipped with the information needed to make informed decisions and maximize the investment in their physical assets.

Careful planning assures that all of the University’s undergraduate housing facilities – dating from 1888 to 2009 – will continue to serve students for decades to come.