Key takeaways:

• Due to critical maintenance, 39 buildings on campus will have cooling turned off for up to five days, starting July 25 at 10 p.m.
• This will affect three business days: July 28, 29 and 30
• Bruins in these impacted building spaces should notify their managers for authorization to temporarily relocate or shift to remote work or learning, in coordination with supervisors and instructors, if indoor temperatures reach 82°F

Dear Bruin Community:

UCLA Facilities Management is conducting critical maintenance on the cogeneration plant, the facility that supplies the campus with power, from July 25 at 10 p.m. to July 30. This effort is part of the campus’s Cogen Repower Project, which is modernizing infrastructure, improving energy efficiency and reliability, and supporting UCLA’s compliance with Air Quality Management District (AQMD) regulations and permitting requirements.

Beginning July 25 at 10 p.m., three major pieces of cooling equipment will be taken offline so that aged engines that power electricity, steam and chilled water for much of the campus can be replaced. As a result, all cooling fan systems serving 39 buildings will be turned off to extend the availability of chilled water for critical operations as part of UCLA’s Campus Cooling Response Plan Stage 3. Ventilation will continue in all affected spaces. View a list of the 39 buildings included in the demand response program.

Turning off cooling in these buildings during the maintenance period is crucial for allowing the campus to maintain adequate cooling in its most critical facility areas, including patient care settings, research spaces, vivariums, classrooms and data centers. This key phase of the project is taking place at this particular time in early summer to reduce overall impact on campus operations and to ensure completion before the arrival of hotter months.

As a health precaution and in accordance with the California Code of Regulations for Indoor Heat Illness Prevention, if indoor temperatures reach 82°F, Bruins working in impacted buildings should notify their managers for authorization to temporarily relocate to a building or space with active cooling, or shift to a remote setting. Similarly, if indoor temperatures reach 82°F, instructors may seek temporary emergency distance authorization from their departments for classes held in impacted buildings. Those needing relocation or who are unable to work or learn remotely should notify their supervisors or class instructors in advance to minimize disruption.

Normal operations will resume Wednesday, July 30, at 7 p.m. — or earlier if work is completed ahead of schedule. Please visit the Outage Notification System and Campus Cooling Response Plan for the most up-to-date information.

We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we appreciate your cooperation as we complete this essential upgrade. For questions, please contact Sean Wilder at SWilder@fm.ucla.edu. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to build a more sustainable and efficient UCLA.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor

Kelly J. Schmader
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Facilities Management