Maroon Opinions

Cold in Classics Reading Room

Would it be possible to turn the heating in the Classics Reading Room on the fourth flour of the Regenstein library a bit higher? There's a continual stream of cold air, rather than heating, now and I've heard complaints from several other grad students about this.

We apologize for the belated reply - the temperature should be back to normal now.

Warmth in RR4

Is there any way the heat can be turned down on the 4th floor? It has been uncharacteristically hot on the 4th floor for the past 10 days, to the point that I and others have decided not to use the library because it is so uncomfortable. In addition to the discomfort, it is a tremendous waste of energy! I understand that it may be difficult to control slight temperature changes and that it is impossible to make everyone happy, but the general consensus is that it is waaaaaay too hot up there (you can ask anyone, or observe the tank tops, flushed cheeks, students fanning themselves, or people passed out asleep from the debilitating heat). Thanks!

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We received a similar comment from regular correspondent M:

Dear Regenstein,

We are having a wet T-shirt contest in the 4th floor reading room. The heat is up so high that we're perspiring through our clothes. While there are some quite attractive folks on this floor, there are plenty that I don't want to see in damp, adherent garments. Please turn down the heat before things get out of control up here!

We apologize for the warm temperatures last week. University Facilities was replacing the air dampers, and the Reg was not taking in any outside air. Further, the building chillers don't turn on unless the outside temperature is above 45 degrees, and we were a little below that point. Without any source of cold air, temperatures inside the building spiraled quickly (digression: most heat in the Reg comes from people, not heaters). We represented to Facilities that the situation was a little sticky, and they completed the present damper work as quickly as they could. Suggestions Office staff wasn't on the fourth floor during the weekend, but I'm hopeful the climate was more comfortable by then. 

There will be more damper work going on in the next several weeks, but it will hopefully not be as noticeable as last week.

PS. True U of C students don't ever let their eyes wander from the text.

Heat in the Reg

The temperature in the Regenstein Library is way too high. Could you please tell the responsible authorities to lower it to room temperature.  I have been in the Reg (1st floor) for about 3 hours now, December 27, and I think I am getting sick because of too much heat.

Please, please, put the temperature back to normal room temperature...I have noticed over the years that I worked here that it gets way too cold in the Reg during the summer and way too hot during winter....and many other patrons feel the same way.

Apologies that we weren't able to do anything about the heat; I hope things cooled down a bit after Saturday.

During winter, we cool the building via a system of vents that admit outside air. But when the outside air is unseasonably warm (we set a record on December 27), there's little the engineers can do except wait for the weather to return to normal winter conditions. (Why don't we turn on the A/C? See this blog post.)

Too Hot and/or Too Cold

Although the weather is getting cooler outside, I think you guys turn the heat up in the library a little too much sometimes. By saving energy you guys can also save a bit of money. Cheers.

As we've mentioned before, we aim to keep the interior temp of the Reg between 70-75 degrees F. Our logs during this period don't show any abnormal readings, but keep communicating with us if the situation persists.

Heater Noise in Harper

Can something be done about the noisy heater in the walkway between Harper and Stuart? I love that place, but in the winter it's impossible to study there because you either have to turn off the heater or deal with loud and constant noise.

Something indeed will be done -- namely, the Harper College Learning Center Project. This multi-year project will renovate and upgrade the Harper Library space, including the HVAC systems.

You may have to endure a noisy heater for one more winter (and the closure of that walkway next June), but the future promises a warm climate conducive to study.

Heat and Cold

Two comments in one post:

Hello,
I am sorry to be mentioning this again,
but the fourth floor of Regenstein is very cold. Inside the room on the south-east corner the temperature is very nice (77 degrees).

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It has been brought to my attention that some people have complained that the air conditioning is too powerful in the Regenstein Library. This is simply not true. In fact, lately, the library has been, if anything, too warm. Usually, the Reg is one of the few buildings on campus where the air conditioning works well, making the Reg a haven for the overheated on hot days (Hyde Park not being known as a neighborhood of ample air conditioning). Heat is most certainly NOT conducive to studying, and the student body would be most benefited if the temperature of the library were NOT raised.

While the Suggestions Office does investigate heat and cold complaints, we're also aware that most temperature variations are in the eye (skin?) of the beholder. One person's sauna is another's icebox, and so on.

We strive for an ambient temp in the low 70s (F), and usually take temperature readings each weekday morning and afternoon to identify problems.

Cold on the 4th Floor

I am currently on the 4th floor [south section] of Regenstein Library, and in spite of the wonderful temperature outside, in here it is cold. My colleagues around me agree that it is freezing. It would be great to find a balanced temperature inside, too. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Our temperature logs don't show anything out of the ordinary, but we'll keep an eye on the situation. Readers, if you study in this area and the cold feelings persist, please let us know.

Cold

These days, it's not warm enough inside the library.
My friends and I need to wear coat inside!
Would you make it warmer please?

After several days of warmer-than-normal temperatures, Chicago experienced a cold snap over Thanksgiving weekend. We didn't take our normal indoor readings over the holiday, but speculate the Reg took a few days to respond to the chilly air outside. Monday morning readings were all within the target range of 70-75 deg F.

However, if you can provide a specific floor/location, our Building Services folks are happy to investigate making some finer adjustments.

Cold

The library is too cold!!  This makes it very hard to study here for any extended period of time.  Stop wasting energy!

I presume you're referring to the Reg, which this morning we had a steam shutdown and thus had zero heating ability for a few hours. If it was particularly cold this morning, I suspect this interruption was to blame.

If the problem persists, or if this is an ongoing issue, please let us know the specific location that is too cold and we can investigate.

Another Cold Complaint

Dear Regenstein Library,

I am sitting on the south side of the fourth-floor reading room. From my chair I can see three patrons. Three freezing patrons. One is wearing a jacket with a hood. Another is wearing a turtleneck sweater, a scarf, and has blanket on her lap. All three are huddled around cups of hot coffee and tea in a pathetic way. I'm wearing a thick woolen turtleneck sweater and have my feet jammed awkwardly under my knees in search of a little spare bodyheat.

It's eighty degrees out! And yesterday, when we were all here exactly as we are now, the heat index was reaching over a hundred!

I'm worried that the extreme cold is making me sick. I've got a scratchy throat and sniffles, which I attribute to the continuous cooling and re-heating of my poor, delicate body. Could you do us a favor, and turn the air conditioning down? And maybe send a nurse up to check on me?

As we noted earlier, our temperature checks have shown the fourth floor to be colder than expected. We're talking high 60s (F), so I wouldn't expect to see penguins and polar bears, but certainly uncomfortable for bodies conditioned to the warm weather outside.

Our Building Services folks and University Facilities have been working throughout the day to resolve the problem. The main culprit seems to be the ongoing HVAC work: we have two fan systems that have been upgraded but are yet to be "balanced," and thus are running all-out regardless of ambient temperature.

I'm not sure when we'll see a return to normal (low/mid 70s) temperatures, but we're hoping it will be soon. In the meantime, you might corral some of your frozen colleagues and take over a seminar room -- the lack of air ducts in these enclosed spaces might actually be a plus for once.