A new $141,000 cooling system for Reavis and Watson halls is being installed and will be completed in May.

Atique Ahmed, a mechanical engineer for the Physical Plant, said the job should be completed by May 22.

Conrad Miller, administrative and support service project manager to the Physical Plant, said the completion of the project might be delayed since the cooling coil that was designed for the project is not the right model.

Miller said, “There will be a degree of inconvenience,” as a result of the construction, but if the coil can be fixed, Reavis and Watson halls will be without air-conditioning only from April 10 to 17.

If NIU has to wait for delivery of a new coil, the air-conditioning in the halls will have to be shut down longer than one week, Miller said. A decision regarding the ordering of a new coil will be made today.

“If we have to get a new coil there is a possibility of 11 weeks for delivery,” Miller said.

Tony Fusaro, assistant provost for budget and space said, “If they’re down (the air-conditioning units) during the summer then we will try to find other classrooms in other buildings.”

The reason for the construction lies with the need for a new compressor, which “was worn out,” Ahmed said. He said that instead of replacing the compressor, it was decided to replace the compressor with a cooling coil.

Miller said, “The old cooling system is 30 years old. Put a new system in and get 30 more years use.”

He said with the new cooling system, “the cost of the use of electricity should be less. We will have a cooling system that is new and reliable.”

The construction will be paid for with funds made available from the Build Illinois Project. The Capital Development Board (CDB) is overseeing the operation, Miller said.

The CDB hired the engineering firm of Buchanan, Bellows and Associates from Bloomington, Ill., to represent the university in this project, he said.