You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.

This story originally ran in the Sept. 23, 1980, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.

The story has been updated for current basic AP style, but the wording in the story has not changed. Any ideas, perspectives or opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Sidelines.

Kirksey Old Main has become known as “the oven,” and for good reason.

Classes have been moved to the cooler lower floors of Old Main to empty classrooms of Peck Hall. Students have become ill from the heat in the classes, causing teachers to cut short lectures and allow longer breaks to compensate for the discomfort.

Old Main is in the process of having a new air-conditioning and heating unit installed. A construction contract was signed on May 2 with completion intended 140 calender days later. That date was last week.

Charles Pigg, director of Campus Planning, said the date has since been moved to Oct. 9, due to a holdup by suppliers who could not meet the scheduled completion date.

“If this date is not met,” Pigg said, “the contractors will be charged with liquidated damages – $200 per day for every day above ad beyond authorized completion date.”

The budget for this new unit is $800,000. The contractors have estimated $700,675 plus architectural fees and other miscellaneous costs.

The previous heating system used in Old Main was remodeled in three stages: the business building in 1961; the math department in 1964; and Old Main itself in 1965. It wasn’t until 1965 that air conditioning was installed in the buildings. This last system used three refrigerated machines.

“There were a lot of maintenance problems,” Pigg said. “The machines were used for 15 to 20 years. They were on their last leg.”

The new systems will be a tie-on to the chill water distribution system at the Chilling Plant.

With fall approaching, the lack of air conditioning might be overlooked, what about heat for the winter?

“Generally, the heat must be on by the middle of October,” Pigg noted.

Will the system be operative by then?

“I have reservations, to be honest,” he confided. “The business building and the math section will come out OK, but I’m not too optimistic about Old Main.”

So for those now burning up in classes in Old Main, prepare to wear warm clothes come November.