Gordian assessment drives prioritization of HVAC, controls and roof work in district plan

District staff told trustees that Gordian’s facility assessment produced a comprehensive inventory of building components and recommended priorities that informed the steering committee’s choices. Presenters highlighted R‑22 refrigerant systems as a recurring, high-priority issue. District staff said R‑22 refrigerant became obsolete in 2010 and that large chiller replacements had produced surprise high-cost items (the Madison chiller replacement was cited as a trigger for the broader study). The presentation listed numerous chiller replacement line items across campuses, and staff explained price variation by chiller tonnage and by whether multiple chillers serve a campus. The committee also prioritized direct-digital-control (DDC) upgrades to modernize building management systems that regulate HVAC scheduling and monitor equipment. Presenters described DDCs as the “brains” of campus HVAC and said modern controls improve energy use tracking and allow central staff to manage systems remotely. Roof coverings, fire alarm system upgrades, boiler replacements, elevators and other core building systems also appear in the Gordian-backed list. Presenters said Gordian estimated more projects than can be funded in a single bond — Gordian’s total replacement-cost inventory exceeded hundreds of millions, and staff narrowed recommendations to the most critical items. Trustees asked for net-asset-value information and lifecycle details; presenters said the Gordian report contains net asset values and component-level condition assessments and that staff would extract lifecycle and replacement-date data for trustee review and voter materials. Why it matters: replacing obsolete refrigerant systems, upgrading building controls and addressing roofs and fire alarms reduce the risk of unplanned failures and can improve energy efficiency and operating costs over time. Staff said the recommended projects represent the most critical portion of a much larger long-term list of deferred maintenance.