It Could Cost up to $7 Million to Get AC at ULS

“It's hard to focus when you're uncomfortable,” said Niko Cooksey, a senior, describing his experience in classrooms that lack air-conditioning in the early fall. 

For decades, students and teachers at University Liggett School have endured hot classrooms during hot weather. While the middle school does have AC, as it is a newer addition to the building, the older parts of the building are cooled by fans and open windows, if at all.

The oldest part of the Cook Road campus was constructed before the widespread use of air conditioning. The same goes for the lower school, built in 1954, which also lacks AC.

The second floor of the upper school is notorious for its high temperatures, even among teachers. Head of Upper School Shernaz Minwalla said those rooms get “swelteringly hot” during the warmer months of the year. 

Minwalla said, “having taught up there myself for quite some time now, I do know that it is difficult to concentrate when you are that uncomfortable. In an old building like that, you expect to be either hot or freezing cold.”

Junior Class President Anthony Abraham said “the main upper school and especially in the history room and English room towards the end of the hall get very hot.” Both of those rooms are on the second floor of the upper school.

The lower school, with its large windows, is sometimes no better. Laura Deimel, a fourth-grade teacher, said, “trying to challenge them and engage their brains while their bodies don't feel well - it's really difficult.” 

Deimel also mentioned that she tries to make time for her students to cool down, and often takes them into the science wing, one of the parts of the building with AC.  

According to Christy Nolan, the director of facilities, in order for even minimal air conditioning, such as window units or mini-splits, to be installed in the upper school, the building would need to undergo extensive improvements to make it more efficient, including new windows, fire suppression systems and an upgraded electrical system. 

But, Nolan said, if the school decided to go with central air conditioning, in addition to those upgrades, ductwork would need to be installed from the compressor units to each room in the building, as well as a full HVAC suite. 

Nolan estimated it would cost $1.5 million to $2 million to make the improvements and install window units, or $6 million to $7 million for central AC, including renovations. 

Nolan also estimated that installing central AC would require eight to 10 months of work.

Despite the cost and difficulty, this improvement might happen. Adding AC is part of the school's Campus Master Plan, which determines what is going to be the funding priority of each year.  

Devin Frank, assistant head of school for finance and operations, said that it's always a balancing act. “AC is prioritized against giving faculty and staff raises, and is prioritized against making improvements to your athletic facilities,” he said.

Frank continued, “One of the things that we're talking about with the board is potentially setting aside a capital reserve fund so that we have the resources to tackle some of these projects without it competing with other priorities.”