The Los Medanos College Library underwent early morning maintenance Friday, Sept. 19, to repair its air conditioning system, closing for two hours while crews worked with heavy equipment.
According to an email from Jarrod Holcombe, director of maintenance and operations, the work required the use of a crane in the library loading area. OSHA regulations mandated the building be unoccupied during the operation, which lasted from 5 to 7 a.m. The library’s normal Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so students and staff were not affected by the closure.
Holcombe said the library repairs were part of a larger project also involving the Math building.
“We are currently upgrading the building management systems for both the Math and Library buildings,” Holcombe said. “These upgrades will enhance the efficiency and control of our heating and cooling systems. As part of this project, we’re also addressing a major issue with the Library’s HVAC unit, including the replacement of a failed compressor.”
He added that the work had been planned well in advance.
“Design for this project began earlier this year, with construction starting at the end of last semester,” Holcombe said. “This timing was intentional to minimize disruption to students and staff during the academic year.”
Bel Air Mechanical, the contractor hired for the project, was responsible for replacing key equipment. Gabriel Galindez, a worker with the company who was on site, explained the role of the components installed.
“We were just contracted to do the repair. We didn’t do the diagnosis,” Galindez said. “We brought up compressors. That’s what circulates the refrigerant within the system, which then ultimately gives you cooling comfort.”
The library has faced ongoing temperature issues in recent years, due in part to its design. Large glass windows allow sunlight from the outdoor quad to pour into the building, creating uncomfortable heat on warmer days. While the tall ceilings make the space appear open and bright, most of the air vents are positioned near the ceiling, leaving students and staff on the floor below feeling uneven cooling.
As a result, students have complained that the library often feels either too hot or too cold. The recent work, replacing the compressors that power the HVAC system, is part of a larger effort to improve conditions inside one of the busiest academic spaces on the Pittsburg campus.
“The librarians are rooting for the maintenance and HVAC teams,” said librarian Kim Wentworth. “We want the library to be a comfortable welcoming space for students to work.”
Because the repairs were completed before the building opened, few students or staff were aware of the operation. For now, the updates are expected to make the library more consistent and reliable in regulating temperatures as the semester continues.
