Karson Byerly
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Winthrop University experienced a loss of air conditioning over the summer in a number of buildings when its aging HVAC system went out, leaving many areas uncomfortable due to high temperatures.

The University was unable to repair the system before the fall semester started, leaving many students, faculty and staff at the mercy of the summer heat.

Rutledge, Johnson and Tillman halls and the Sims Science Building were some of the buildings that were most affected. 

University officials say the system is unique and trying to repair it is extremely costly and logistically difficult. 

James Griggs, Winthrop’s vice president of facilities management, has been working for the university since 2018 and he says the HVAC system in Rutledge has been a priority of his since day one.

“Since I started Rutledge has always had a challenged HVAC system, I believe it was last renovated in the mid 1980s, so most of the system is past life expectancy,” said Griggs.

“We have been trying to motivate the system to keep it working, as well as at the same point of championing replacement of the system.”

Many students have had to adjust to the uncomfortable learning conditions and some have resorted to bringing portable fans, taking breaks to walk outside or leaving classes early.

Senior Veta Evans said the heat in classrooms, early in the semester, has made her feel sick.

“The heat has actually made me physically ill where I’ve had to leave class and go home, because I could not stay because it was so hot,” Evans said.

Johnson Hall is another building that has continued to have problems keeping cool air flowing to classrooms, studios and offices.

Amaya Patterson, a senior theatre and political science major, said the Johnson studio classrooms have never had air conditioning, but the intense heat has made it even worse.

“We’re just kind of at the mercy of whatever it feels like outside. So, nights, especially upstairs, it gets really cool really fast, but it also gets really hot really fast,” Patterson said.

The university says it plans to eventually replace the entire HVAC system in Rutledge, but due to the hefty cost, there is no immediate fix.

Griggs said Winthrop intends to seek state funding to help finance the replacement of the system, but this will be a long-term process.

“Not an ideal situation having a very old system with unicorn parts and difficult repairs at the start of a school year when it’s 90 degrees, I fully get all of that, but like I said it’s been a challenge trying to get Rutledge satisfied.” said Griggs,

“It’s never our intention to impact students, it’s just we usually try to find a way to mitigate that situation, sometimes we’re successful. Sometimes we’re not as successful as we want to be.”

A contractor has been working on the issue and air flow has been recirculated to some classrooms and other areas of Rutledge and Johnson halls.

Additionally, many classes were moved to other buildings were the air conditioning was working properly.

However, there is now concern about preparing the system for dropping temperatures as fall has arrived.