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Lawsuit: Hamilton Hall's air-handling system too loud

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 - 07:03:57 pm CDT

University of Nebraska-Lincoln students aren’t the only noisemakers at Hamilton Hall, according to a lawsuit filed last week in Lancaster County District Court.

According to the lawsuit, filed  by the NU Board of Regents, the air-handling system at the UNL campus building has created too much noise.

The suit alleges that the system designed by Clark Enersen Partners, Inc., installed by Shanahan Mechanical, Inc., and completed in August 2006, “has noise characteristics such that they prevent, disrupt, and/or frustrate educational instruction and other proper uses and activities when the system is operating.”

Story Photo
Hamilton Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. (LJS File)

 The lawsuit says that since the system was installed, some facilities in Hamilton Hall have been rendered unusable.

Because of that, and the need to install a “proper and adequate” air handling system, the university is seeking $2.5 million to $3 million in damages from the two companies, according to the lawsuit.

Clark Enersen Partners did not respond Thursday to a Journal Star e-mail sent late Thursday morning seeking comment. Shanahan Mechanical and Electrical offered no comment Thursday morning.


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aaa wrote on September 4, 2008 12:47 pm:
" Agree! Too loud makes us unconfortable "

 ChemGrad wrote on September 4, 2008 1:11 pm:
" After spending 2+ years with my desk positioned under one of these air handling devices, I can attest to the ridiculously loud and bothersome nature of the poorly designed air-flow system. Not only are they loud and distracting, preventing communication among people within the building and office areas, temperature control is almost non-existent. "

 This is a bad thing wrote on September 4, 2008 1:38 pm:
" This kind of air handling system, loud and distracting, would have improved most of the chemistry lectures I attended in college. "

 JT wrote on September 4, 2008 2:09 pm:
" I was there when they installed it and it sounded like a jet engine back then. Get that cash UNL!!! "

 Troy at UNL wrote on September 4, 2008 3:09 pm:
" I am currently a graduate student in the Chemistry Department at UNL and the noise levels in all of the labs and offices in Hamilton Hall is rediculously loud. Since the system was installed we have had no one to complain to. I hope that Clark Enersen Partners and Shanahan Mechanical and Electrical are driven completely out of business for this. They made such basic errors as undersizing the duct work for the air handlers. This is basic stuff that any sophmore engineering student would know. "

 Granny wrote on September 4, 2008 3:16 pm:
" Too loud can be uncomfortaable. I hope people realize the need for decibel levels, ratings and scales in specifications when contracts are used. Remember the health departments efforts to help make this a more quiet community? Where did that initiative go? Noise can affect our health and stress with resulting physiologic responses that vary from person to person. Lucky we have a great acoustic engineering program at UNL so there is expertise in the community. "

 Undergrad wrote on September 4, 2008 3:50 pm:
" It is so difficult to sleep in my classes with this noise! Please fix asap! "

 Dave wrote on September 4, 2008 3:52 pm:
" The new air handlers on east campus,(Morrioson Life Sciences Building and Veterinary Diagnostic Center)are very load also. Not problematic as they are away form instrucitonal space but if all buldings on campus were this loud campus woudl have a serious problem. "

 me wrote on September 4, 2008 3:58 pm:
" It took them this long to decide it was too loud? "

 sm wrote on September 4, 2008 4:47 pm:
" To Troy at UNl, why did it take 2 years to decide this is too noisy. My dad works at Shanahan and it is certainly not the installers fault the designers created a noisy system. Do you know anything at all about HVAC, my guess is you have no knowledge of how these systems work. How bout I wish all your family members employers are put out of business. Besides which would you prefer, some noise or 100 plus degree environment with no ac. "

 Gerard Harbison wrote on September 4, 2008 5:40 pm:
" It didn't take two years. UNL has been working with Shanahan and Clark Enersen for the last 4 years to fix the problem. They've conspicuously failed to do so. The lawsuit is the final alternative, when all other attempts failed to get Shanahan/Clark Enersen to do the job properly.

The noise doesn't bother me, but I'm one of the few. In my office, it still sounds like a jet aircraft flying overhead, all the time. "

 BBB wrote on September 4, 2008 5:40 pm:
" That building has always been a complete dump! "

 R wrote on September 4, 2008 6:18 pm:
" Both of these companies are good at what they do. Budgets sometimes force designs of systems that meet the bottom line rather than the ultimate function. Let an independent engineering company determine whether the design and work were appropriate. Sounds like there is a problem and wait for the evidence before condemning two good local firms. "

 Shelli wrote on September 4, 2008 6:32 pm:
" Perlman seems to micromanage, did he have an expert review the design before it was installed? "

 Matt P. wrote on September 4, 2008 10:28 pm:
" The fact that you are just hearing about the problem hardly means this is the first time the Chem. Department has taken action! They are just finally at the point where they have no other recourse. As far as getting an independent firm to come in, well, something similar to that will occur in the court case. If UNL can't get them to pay up then this is the best alternative. "

 anon wrote on September 5, 2008 12:58 pm:
" I would say it might be something that isn't possible with an existing structure like Hamilton Hall. There is only so much space available above ceilings, and on top of that to have to deal with an existing building that was never designed to use this size of a hvac system. There are also a lot of other systems in a building, especially when dealing with labs. Maybe UNL is demanding too much out of a old existing building. "

 former student wrote on September 5, 2008 10:44 pm:
" Maybe UNL should spend less money on Football and more money when they redo the buildings!!!! You people always have something to piss and moan about!!!! What an AWESOME idea to put two companies out of business. If you think you can do such a great job, then get off your A$$, work 16 hour days, 7 days a week to make it work. Oh then UNL can sue you too!!!!!! "

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