Governor Quinn Announces $1.7 Million for Chiller Plant Renovation at SIUE

EDWARDSVILLE – Governor Pat Quinn today announced a capital investment of more than $1.7 million to renovate the chiller plant at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, part of his Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program. The project is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward.

“Our investment will help provide a better and more efficient learning environment at this world-class institution of higher learning,” Governor Quinn said. “The project will also employ a number of construction workers, which will help the local economy.”

The project involves renovating the central chiller plant, which provides air conditioning to the Edwardsville campus. This includes increasing the plant capacity, installing a third lake water pump, upgrading switchgear, removing an absorption chiller and upgrading pumps and controls. Kane Mechanical, Inc. of East Alton was the lowest of four bidders for the heating and air conditioning part of the work at $1,171,500. Wissehr Electric, Inc. of Belleville was the lowest of four bidders for the electrical work with a quote of $572,600. The project will be overseen by the Illinois Capital Development Board.

“These improvements will make a real difference on the SIUE campus and when combined with the other SIU-related projects in the Governor’s Illinois Jobs Now! Program will continue to demonstrate the State’s commitment to this university,” SIU President Glenn Poshard said. “Chancellor Furst-Bowe and I look forward to the start of this project and to future investments in our campus.”

“While a new air conditioning system may not be the most thrilling construction project in the university’s history, this is a commitment to maintain the existing standard of a quality environment to attract and keep the great student body and faulty at SIUE,” State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) said.

The project is part of Governor Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation.