More than 40 tons of air-handling equipment was lifted to the fourth
floor of the structure, which is coming together on the north side of
campus, sandwiched between Hamman and George R. Brown halls.

The equipment will precondition air by removing particulate matter
and much of the humidity before it ever gets to the new building’s
heating, venting and air-conditioning system. This will save up to
$65,000 a year in energy costs and keep the environment around
Brockman’s sensitive equipment ultraclean.

A heavy-duty hydraulic crane, capable of lifting 300 tons, was
installed at the work site late last week in preparation for Saturday’s
delicate operation, which involved lifting minibus-sized pieces of the
air-handling unit through the still-open side of the fourth floor.  Crews worked the components into position, where they’ll
eventually be assembled into a 40-by-40-foot unit.

The daylong project necessitated the occasional closing of Rice Boulevard as trucks brought the massive pieces to campus.

Brockman Hall for Physics is scheduled to open next year.