Written by Olivia Brandon and Grace Stark
Practically everywhere you walk on campus, there’s a blue covering surrounding a construction site with the words “Capital Renewal Program at work” — but what exactly does that statement mean?
Despite the impracticality of blocked off sidewalks, entire sections of campus being under construction and an added ten minutes to your route to class, this hindrance has a name, purpose and millions of dollars of funding behind it: The Capital Renewal Program
Over the course of two years, Boise State received $90 million from the State of Idaho for deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance refers to necessary projects that lack the financial resources to be completed, often relating to safety or efficiency.
The program aims to revitalize campus structures by addressing three common themes: replacing equipment nearing the end of its life, improving energy efficiency and enhancing the safety and longevity of buildings on campus. These themes are illustrated through the updating of steam plant boilers, fire alarm systems, roof replacements and ensuring elevators can operate during a power outage.
Stephany Galbreaith, director of media relations for Boise State, explained in 2023, Boise State “received $38 million from the State of Idaho to address high-priority deferred maintenance needs”, resulting in Phase 1 of the project.
The university received an additional $52 million in 2024 from the State of Idaho, which enabled Boise State to begin work on deferred maintenance projects, deemed Phase 2.
Currently in Phase 2, $39.5 million of the budget has been committed to various projects — marking roughly 45% of the full budget.
Central Heat Plant
The central heat plant steam boilers serve 25 buildings around campus. The project addresses structure deterioration in the underground tunnel system and replaces the central plant equipment with more modern technology.
Don Whitehead, Project Manager, Architecture and Engineering Services, explained that the work on the Heat Plant was a project he was particularly proud of.
“I’m very pleased that we were able to complete the Heat Plant project this year, and I’m looking forward to the upcoming work on the Steam Tunnels over the next two years,” Whitehead said. “These improvements will have a significant and lasting impact on campus. The steam system supports 27 buildings and directly affects thousands of students, faculty, and staff.”
This month marks the end of the estimated six-month shutdown for the heating system while it undergoes maintenance. Because the steam system typically shuts down from May to the middle of Sept., about 14 campus buildings that do not have supplemental heating options are projected to experience colder temperatures during October. These include Albertsons Library, the Liberal Arts Building, the Science and Education Building and the Student Union Building.
The current boilers in the heat plant have been serving the Boise State campus since the 1960s, surpassing their expected lifespan. Maintenance on this system will not only create energy efficiency and eliminate deterioration, but also improve safety for maintenance staff.
“This work is critical to preventing future service disruptions. The new monitoring system will detect potential issues in real time and alert the Facilities team within seconds—regardless of the time of day—enabling a much faster response and reducing the duration of any outages,” he said.
A design study will determine if the university will replace the steam boilers with new steam boilers or if a 4th-generation heating system will be installed. This heating system would increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and create an opportunity to connect more of the campus to the City of Boise Geothermal system.
“Additionally,” Whitehead added, “The upgraded Heat Plant will now serve as a showcase facility for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) Engineering students. It will provide a valuable, hands-on learning environment where they can study real-world steam system operations as part of their academic and professional development.”
Riverfront Hall
Described on the campus operations website as “the second highest priority for building renewals”, Riverfront Hall will merge with the School of Public Service (SPS) due to a need for more space after the program’s continued growth. Additionally, the air handler modernization or HVAC system is being replaced with a more energy-efficient unit.
Teresa Vidales, Project Manager, Architecture and Engineering Services, described the process of updating the system as “fascinating”.
“I found the scope of the Riverfront Hall HVAC project particularly fascinating; observing the air handler unit being opened, updated, and reassembled was a great learning experience,” Vidales said.
Generators were replaced to ensure fire alarms, elevators and OIT (Office of Information Technology) systems run smoothly. The new generators are connected to the campus remote monitoring system, allowing emergency services to have a quicker response time.
The former air handling unit, described as “nearing the end of its life”, was updated and will not only remove heating and cooling, but also the building’s overall energy efficiency.
Liberal Arts
Originally built in 1967, the Liberal Arts building is also receiving some much-needed TLC. The fire alarms were fully updated to a modern system and a more maintainable system, as finding replacements for the system’s old parts is “difficult to find”.
The building’s roof was replaced and the building’s HVAC system, which is responsible for distributing energy throughout Liberal Arts.
“The Riverfront and Liberal Arts buildings are highly utilized and invaluable assets to the campus. A comprehensive refresh was essential to ensure they continue to serve the community effectively,” Vidales said. “It was incredibly rewarding to see all systems come together and have both buildings successfully returned to normal operations despite a complicated schedule.”
Albertsons Library
Since its opening in 1964, the campus library has undergone many changes with the help of fundraising and grants, and in 1995 was named the Albertson’s Library that we know today.
Capital Renewal Program maintenance in the library targets replacements for switchgear systems and concrete ramps in order to comply with American Disability Act requirements. These replacements will ensure improved access to the building, the safety of maintenance personnel and the resiliency of the building.
Construction will include replacing concrete ramps, new handrails on both sides of the ramps and stairs and modifying the existing guardrail to meet ADA requirements on the east exit of the building.
As the building’s electrical switchgear system reaches the end of its life, replacing it will improve safety for maintenance personnel who operate it and overall contribute to the building’s resiliency so that it can continue to serve students.
According to Galbreaith and team, all but one of the projects are set to be completed by fall 2027. As the tallest building on campus at eight stories high, the Education Building requires a longer construction process.
More information on the Capital Renewal Program can be found on the Campus Operations website and individuals interested in continuous updates can be added to an email list by contacting Donald Whitehead at donaldwhitehead@boisestate.edu.
