It’s a hot job trying to keep state offices cool – or at least, reasonably comfortable – when temperatures and humidity hit and stay near record-breaking levels.
The Division of Facility Management is assigned this daunting task. We have more than a dozen employees dedicated to maintaining the chilled water systems that helps cool 5 million-plus square feet of facilities in the Downtown State Government Complex, as well as respond to service calls from locations where a chiller is not supplying adequate relief.
Much like street crews that try their best to keep roads clear with limited resources during a snow or ice storm, Facility Management is striving to maximize use of a small crew to keep the chillers working at capacity in extreme conditions. If you think your office is warm, try to imagine how challenging it is for technicians to maintain active systems and make repairs in cramped spaces.
Our crews will remain vigilant as we experience the extreme heat and humidity forecast for this week, as we do in responding to facility maintenance needs throughout the year.
Dale Fields (left) and Alan Benson rewire a 100 horsepower motor that moves cool air to the lobby area of the Museum of History