by Mikael Fleenor
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Construction to the third floor of the Bayou Building is underway to replace the existing lights with high-efficiency, fluorescent light fixtures.

The new construction, which started in December, will be accompanied by new grid panels for the ceiling and improvements to the ventilation and air conditioning components.

"The better light will pay for itself within two years," said Dan Wilson, director of planning design and contract administration.

Along with the lights, all of the old, fixed ceiling panels will be replaced with new, more attractive tiles.

The previous panels were stationary grids and were not easily removed for repair or installation of telephone and computer wires. The new tiles will make construction and/or repair work easier in the future. These new grids allow workmen to snap individual tiles in and out of place, giving direct access to the location where the work needs to be done.

Wilson said that the rest of the building's ceiling and lighting will receive the same renovations in the future, but the third floor is the best place to start due to the low amount of traffic in that location.

"You would be surprised what a new ceiling and lighting will do for the school," said Jimmy Hill, a foreman for Johnson Specialty, the company contracted to work on the improvements. "These improvements will be noticeable to everyone that comes to this floor. The lighting that is being installed is a cleaner, brighter light. A nice building brings out the best in people, you can feel proud about the place you are at."

Other third floor construction projects included checking for asbestos in the glue compound called Mastic.

"Any place where renovation is needed that involves floor tiles and demolition of walls, the area must be checked for asbestos," said Pamela Groves, environmental health and safety officer. "An abatement process is then used for the removal of the material."

The abatement process includes large plastic tubes that vent odors out of the school.

The third floor is on schedule and is due for completion in the middle of February.

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