More than 365 new washer and dryer units are being installed in Campbell University residence halls this week, part of a large-scale effort to improve the on-campus living experience for students over the summer and in the coming months.
The new equipment was delivered to campus Tuesday by Caldwell & Gregory, a Virginia-based company that specializes in laundry facilities for college campuses. The machines will not only be an improvement on the aging units they’re replacing, they’ll be app-friendly as well, allowing students to monitor wash and dry times and determine availability from their phones. Faulty machines will also self-report to Facilities Management, meaning quicker response times for repairs.
Caldwell & Gregory is also the first company to provide proper training to resident assistants on campuses through its LaundryPalooza program.
“Better laundry services have been one of our most pressing needs in the last few years,” says Vice President for Business and Chief Financial Officer Sandy Connolly. “The University heard the concerns from our students and reached out this past year for a new vendor. It’s a positive step toward making the living experience on our campus a better one.”
Laundry is just one of the improvements on-campus residents will see this fall and in the near future. A new boiler system has been installed at Bob Barker Hall, which like Burkot, McCall and Small halls, now has its own independent boiler plant, meaning better energy efficiency and reliable hot water. Its addition means the central boiler plant along U.S. 421 — originally installed in 1960 — has been taken offline.
Facilities crews also replaced the roof at Bob Barker Hall this summer with new factory-direct, 50-year shingles to provide long-term durability and better energy efficiency. The first phase of new LED lighting in the hall is also complete, according to Facilities Management Director Robbie Adams. This initiative will expand campus-wide and is designed to reduce utility costs, lower maintenance demands and improve overall building aesthetics.
HVAC replacement and repairs are a top infrastructure priority for the campus, Adams says, and his department is working with Dewberry Engineering on “comprehensive strategies to address system issues across campus.” A new chiller was installed in Butler Chapel this month, and new units are scheduled for Taylor Hall and Lundy-Fetterman this fall. Planning is also underway to redo the boiler system at Faculty Memorial Commons apartments, which can house more than 200 students.
Adams says continual residence hall general repairs and maintenance are underway — such as cosmetic work at Bob Barker and newly paved steps in front of Burkot/McCall/Small — to “ensure optimal readiness” for the start of the fall semester. Significant repairs have also been made to the McKinney House (near Bob Barker and Luby Wood halls), which will be home to Residence Life staff when complete.
In total, Campbell has invested nearly $1.3 million in residence hall improvements and repairs over the last three years.
“Residential living at Campbell represents a home away from home, and it is an important dimension of the student experience,” said Vice President for Student Life Dr. Faithe Beam. “Our residence halls and apartments cultivate an environment for building community, cultivating friendships and developing personal responsibility. By addressing these foundational needs through facility improvements, our students are better positioned to find their place and thrive.”