Charlie Bonin is clearly excited about the changes being made to Folsom Hall.  The Vice President for Administration and Finance buzzed around his office in Preble Hall, showing blueprints and documentation.

Aside from cosmetic modifications--all of the classrooms will receive new paint jobs, new floors, new shades and new ceiling tiles--there will be some major internal changes to Folsom, affecting the overall functioning of the building and its impact on the environment.

This "rehabilitation of Folsom," as Manager of Physical Plant David St. Peter calls it, will include new windows, a new heating system and a "new building envelope." This includes new metal siding that will give Folsom the same exterior look as Gentile. The windows will be downsized and replaced with permanently shut windows. New fiberglass insulation, 35 inches thick, will be put in the walls. 

Does this live up to universal safety and environmental standards? 

"It goes above the standards. Beyond," assured St. Peter. 

The insulation will keep the building self-contained and prevent energy-consuming leaks of heat and cold.

The biggest change will be to Folsom's heating and cooling capabilities. The current boiler system, which runs on fossil fuels, only heats the building.  The new system, an air-to-air heat pump, runs on electricity and converts chill water to cool air and hot water to heat.

"This new system, augmented by the up-coming wind turbine system, will greatly reduce UMPI's carbon footprint," St. Peter declared. While no final conclusions have been arrived at in regards to the wind turbine system, a local consulting company has been hired and negotiations are in the works.

Another bonus: no more rattling ventilators. The heat and cool comes from the ceiling and each class will have its own thermostat.  Bonin's ultimate goal is to create a totally LEED Certified campus, making it 100% green.  For now, green renovations are incorporated where it's possible and feasible. With the new heating system, this means almost 40,000 gallons of fuel saved a year. Plus, all classroom lights will be on sensors; every joule of energy saved counts.

Funding for the project, which costs $2 million, came from the University of Maine System and from a bond donated by the city of Presque Isle. Voters in Presque Isle gave their support, 61% yes to 39% no. Over the course of January and February, President Zillman and Media Relations Coordinator, Rachel Rice, presented at various service clubs around the county, vying for funds.

According to President Zillman and Charlie Bonin, the priorities considered when making any renovation decisions are:

-To make all building handicap accessible (meeting ADA requirements)

-The renovation of essential classroom buildings

-Utilization of significant energy-saving opportunities

-Creation of jobs for Aroostook County

Most priorities seem to have been well met, with the exception of Folsom's science labs. They are the same labs that were installed in the 1960s.  President Zillman hopes that further funding, through private donations or another bond, will enable the University to update labs one at a time.

The first priority, bringing all buildings up to existing American Disability Act requirements, is always the top concern whenever renovations are taking place. This has resulted in two more wheelchair-accessible bathrooms being installed in Folsom.  The first is on the second floor, where the office of Dr. Knopp is located. The second is located directly above this, on the third floor. This will certainly benefit Natalie St. Pierre, a student who uses a wheelchair and motorized scooter.

 "By the time I go down to use the bathroom on the first floor and come back up to class on the second or third floor, I've missed fifteen minutes of class," St. Pierre explained.

She also lists a need for the school to update the elevator and to put an automatic door opener on the door that leads from the C3 lobby to the first floor of Folsom.  Bonin has confirmed that improvements upon or replacement of the elevator in Pullen will take precedence when they get to renovating Pullen, in another four or five years.  He's also made note of the need for an automatic door opener on the above-mentioned door.  "We'll see what we can do about that this summer," he mused.

Another addition to Folsom will be a commuter student's lounge, located in F101A, where one of the computer labs used to be.

"Most commuters don't leave Folsom, so the lounge is a good thing for us," said Ryan Butler, a member of the Commuter Student Club.  "We don't need it to be very fancy.  So long as the computers have internet access and Microsoft Office, commuter students will be pleased."  

Steve Callioras, a commuting student who is not part of the Commuter Student Club, begs to differ.  "Why do we need a lounge?  There are plenty of places around campus to eat and do work.  I would prefer the resources go towards maintaining the jobs of professors who make a difference."

The space, near food services, is for off-campus students to spend their in-between hours. When will the renovations be complete? "My hope is for a mid-October ribbon cutting," says President Zillman.

Asbestos Angst

Asbestos floor tiles, installed around the campus in the 50's, 60's and 70's, is being removed from Folsom in this renovation.

"Asbestos floor tile poses no danger.  It's only a problem when it becomes friable, when it breaks up and goes into the air," St. Peter explained.

"The stuff that could pose a danger, around boilers and spray-on insulation, was removed years ago when the legislation came out," Bonin confirmed.

This is why, in accordance with State Legislation (which can be found at