Talking Stick - September/October 2013 - 50

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cOntInued

FACILITIES

the replacement of furniture, finishes,
fixtures and equipment, the roof, and
mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
systems will ensure that the building
as a whole makes it to the end of its
life. The life cycle of carpet, paint,
and furniture should be seen not only
in practical terms but also aesthetic
ones. Carpeting and furniture may be
holding up, but students and parents
may find the style or colors less than
appealing. Life cycle planning for the
mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
systems, as well as the building’s
infrastructure, should take into account
what materials are being used, what the
preventive maintenance needs are, and
what the specific life cycle is for each
material or item; the life cycle of copper
pipes, for example, differs from that of
PVC. Though taking care of all these
individual parts will help extend the
life of the residence hall, the building
itself also has a life cycle. Many of the

residence halls built in the sixties were
50-year buildings that have exceeded
the end of their life cycle, and decisions
need to be made about the relative costs
of replacement or renovation.
The key to capital planning for
construction and renovation projects is
to prevent problems before they occur.
An old adage in the roofing industry
states, “A roof accounts for only 10% of
the total cost of building construction
but 90% of its problems down the
road.” In many cases, roofing problems
become evident only after considerable
damage has been done not only to the
roof but also to the insulation, walls,
equipment, and furniture. In these
cases, the costs extend far beyond that
of repairing or replacing the roof; they
also include damage to the interior, the
loss of energy efficiency, and the loss of
usable space. For these reasons, Harold
Smiles’ hope that funds for preventive
maintenance might be set aside the

next year is short-sighted, risky, and
expensive. tS
Abeer Mustafa

is the director of housing
and residence education at
Winston-Salem University in
North Carolina.

Andrew Naylor

is the associate director of
housing operations at Loyola
University-Chicago in Illinois.

Dennis Roberts

is the housing and educational
services director, business
and financial analysis, for the
10 Colleges at University of
California, Santa Cruz.

Stina M. Schoneck is the assistant director
of accounting services at
the University of Florida in
Gainesville.

Note: For authoritative term definitions
and descriptions please visit NACUBO
(National Association of College and
University Business Officers), SCUP
(Society for College and University
Planning), and APPA Leadership in
Educational Facilities websites.

Get the feedback you need to make
the most beneficial improvements to
your campus’s residential experience.

ACUHO-I/EBI Resident,
Apartment, and Student
Staff Assessments

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For more information, contact:
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Talking Stick - September/October 2013

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