Progress and setbacks loom as school is eager push for project completion.

Construction workers are busy fixing up the Castleton campus as the antiquated heating systems receive a necessary overhaul to protect its longevity. 

Workers only recently broke ground on the southwest side of the library. 

This particular update, deemed “absolutely necessary,” by campus operations director James Lamountain, has overcome two pitfalls so far. 

This first was securing a bid for the work to start, delaying the projected date of completion to somewhere in the end of October. 

“The project was planned to be done by the end of the summer, but the school received bids later than expected. This was probably cause of the labor shortage and need for construction across the state,” Lamountain said, referring to the crippling labor shortage New England has been experiencing for the last decade. 

The bid had finally been secured after weeks of attempts, but this was not the end of Lamountain’s tribulations. 

“There was another hangup from the pipe manufacturer. The original completion date was the beginning of October, but now it’s looking like the end of the month,” he said.

In an effort to renovate the essential heating systems campus-wide, Lamountain said that a “third party consulting company” has been hired to evaluate all components to hone in on further repairs and updates. 

Although the delays have hindered the project, school faculty are hopeful these repairs will bring a new and permanent fix to the heating and cooling system on campus. 

A faculty member who wished to remain anonymous said, “I believe it’s been repaired five or six times while I’ve been here.” 

Staff and students alike are hoping for a long-term fix in this trodden area of campus. 

Student Royal Wood is looking forward to the lawn area being open again outside the library, saying how his walk would be a little easier and “It would also look nicer.”

When asked if the delayed construction was delaying students on their way to classes, student Ian Edwards said it’s not that big of a deal.  

“I wouldn’t say it’s anything serious, maybe an extra minute, minute and a half or so but nothing that’s really obstructive. I mean sure, you see it, but it’s not anything detrimental to our day.”