Electrical system improvements to prompt temporary closure of Collin College Plano campus

Electrical system upgrades will prompt the closure of Collin College’s Plano Campus from May 15-29, the college stated in a news release.

During the closure, services such as registration and advising will shift to other campuses. More information on other campus locations is available at www.collin.edu/campuses.

What's happening: The campus’s main power will be shut down for upgrades to emergency backup power, which will provide more power to the police dispatch area, IT system rooms throughout the campus, some science labs and the Cougar Café kitchen.

Additionally, a temporary roll-up generator will be connected to power the backup system if the building generator is damaged or becomes inoperable.

The work is part of ongoing projects intended to provide cost savings; greater temperature control; and improved comfort and safety for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

“The safety and comfort of our students and employees are paramount at the Plano Campus, and ongoing improvements like these are creating the best environment possible for learning,” campus Provost Mary Barnes-Tilley said in a statement. “This temporary closure is unfortunate but necessary while work is being done to the campus’s electrical system.”

The background: Other improvements to the Plano campus were completed during the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters while the campus was fully occupied.

Completed projects included:

• The replacement of 29 air handlers, 10 exhaust fans and many electrical panels;
• Rerouted ductwork to ensure the best use of the system;
• Air quality improvements through additional filters, UV lights in all air handlers and airflow monitoring stations;
• The replacement of retrofitted UV and bipolar ionizers that were installed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• Temperature control improvements that include more boiler heating and pumping capacity in the central plant and additional heating coils in some air handlers.