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Thank you everyone for your incredible support of the recent efforts to "Electrify the Newman"!
We did it TOGETHER!
What was 1964 Like?
What was 1964 Like?
Sept 20th, 1964 the Newman Center celebrated it's first Mass! At that time, the building had not air conditioning and a main source of lighting was those famous skylights which were so popular! The eventual problems with the skylights led to their covering and replacing with ceiling lights, which were not originally planned as is evident in the following photo from 1964. There were four skylights just in the lower lounge (two seen in photo). The only lamps are on the floor.
Today, the outlets for lamps are used for air conditioning units and student electronics.
What is Being "Electrified"?
What is Being "Electrified"?
Installation of a new transformer.
3-phase electricity upgrade required by code.
Install 5th fuse panel.
Replace and upgrade 50 light units in the building.
Is Fr. John really living on the Roof?
Is Fr. John really living on the Roof?
Mass and confession are the only reasons Fr. John wll be coming down from the roof until the goal is reached to Electrify the Newman! You can also find him on Facebook at John Leo Rutten, where the campaign will be updated frequently!
Can I see More Photos of the Project?
Can I see More Photos of the Project?
Certainly! Click on the "Electrify" on menu bar.
Thank you for supporting this Mission!
6,000 meals, an amazing facility, daily sacraments, bible studies, and discipleship are all impacting hundreds of USD students!
We need your support!
Would you consider a one time or sustaining gift to support this amazing mission?
What is Raise the Roof 2.0 "Electrify the Newman"?
What is Raise the Roof 2.0 "Electrify the Newman"?
(See the full story by clicking "electrify" on menu bar)
The Newman Center, unknowingly, has been inching toward it's electrical capacity. After all, it was built for an electrical load of 1964! Recent plans were in place to update an office during the coming Christmas break. In the process, it was discovered there are no more breakers in the fuse boxes. Thats four fuse boxes full! It is not possible to add any additional electrical components to the building, which means the missionaries room would not have an A/C split installed. Did I mention the electrical capacity was created in 1964? The goal over the next few years is to, one room at a time, put proper ventilation and a/c splits into a few of the key student-use rooms. This is a much smaller expense but to have the capacity for this future work, requires a significant investment in electrical upgrades!
We also discovered that many of the reasons fuses would blow so often during the start of the school year is because running window air conditioners and having the lights on at the same time overloaded the capacity!
Finally the lighting in the building has many challenges. Many of the lights have been there since first installed! Increasingly, they do not work. Currently over the ping pong table half the lights are out. In the kitchen some of the light fixtures don't work. In many places the covers have broken and the light bulbs are exposed. Overall it needs to be brought up to date!
After consultation with the finance council, our pastorate maintenance director and Diocesan officials, the following proposal for "electrifying" the USD Newman Center is being put together to include:
Installation of a new transformer.
Upgrade to 3-phase electricity required by code.
Install 5th fuse panel.
Replace and upgrade 50 light units in the building.
Last fall, Raise the Roof was a joyful and engaging way to make known the importance of the Newman Center to replace the roof and to eliminate a debt. Fr. John Rutten moved up to the roof and asked the alumni, friends, family members and even students to help raise the amount needed in order to come down from the roof!
Considering the first Raise the Roof helped eliminate the long term debt of the Newman Center, this project will only be voted upon by the Finance Council until we can confidently say we are able to pay the bill! How to raise the money for something so very unflashy: move to the Roof! Raise the Roof 2.0 will Electrify the Newman!
WHAT HAPPENED?
The campaign to update electrical and lighting needs at the Newman Center resulted in an amazing $104,000 in support from generous supporters and the faithful people of God who want the Light of Christ to keep reaching today's students at the Newman Center!
WHAT REMAINS?
The total goal for all three phases was $175,000. The consultation team will go to the table aware we can complete Phase 1 and Phase 2! What a blessing. After consultation with the many stakeholders and the project cost options, we will discern how best to tackle the funding for Phase 3. You can still help!
Newman "Birthday Gifts"
Newman "Birthday Gifts"
The "Newman Birthday Gifts" ($100 x 10 mns) created a way for many people to participate in a substantial way! A $100 donation for the remaining 10 months of our fiscal year, made it possible for many people to give a total gift of $1,000 to the Electrify the Newman Campaign!
The categories of donors were
Parent of current
Medical Field
Alumni
Law Grad
Priest
Friend of Newman
Phase 1: 5th Fuse Box Installed
Phase 1: 5th Fuse Box Installed
GOAL: $25,000 Reached: $25,000
All four fuse boxes are full and in order to do construction and remodeling of staff/missionaries offices, we had to add a fifth fuse box along with an additional component to the main frame.
Phase 2: Lights Replaced
Phase 2: Lights Replaced
GOAL: $60,000 Reached: $60,000
More than 50 light fixtures throughout the building are being replaced. The project is about 2/3rds complete and should be finished before summer.
The dark grey cabinet is the main electrical server. It will be replaced with new equipment.
New 1,000 amp, 3 phase unit will be installed. (upgraded from 600 amp.) Code requires 3 phase.
This cabinet and concrete bed will be entirely removed.
Box 1: FULL
Box 2: FULL
Box 3: FULL
Main Box 4: FULL
50 light fixtures replaced! They are in various stages of near disrepair. Some fixtures don't work, some burn bulbs quickly, and many case coverings have broken.
This box --> has controlled lights in the chapel for 60 years and it looks the part! It needs replacing---->
A few electrical needs not present in 1964!
Students need to charge their electronics.
Air conditioning units
Installed Industrial Fridge/Freezer
Cameras inside and outside the building.
Electronic Sign and Chapel exterior lights
Security on all exterior doors.
When electrical equipment isn't cared for and used properly, it's dangerous.
Window A/C won't operate properly because the power supply is too limited.
The Newman Center is not able to install central a/c due to the lack of space for ductwork resulting from the low ceiling. Window A/C's have been the preferred way to provide minimal cooling in the hot months students arrive. For better efficiency and capacity, A/C "splits" have been installed in the Fireplace Room and in the chaplains residence. They are the preferred means of cooling the Newman Center in the years ahead.
Hallway: No longer working.
An original cover 60 years old. They are brittle and many have broken when changing lights. Not able to replace!
Game Room: No longer working.
Women's Bathroom: No longer working.
Window A/C
Standing A/C
Split A/C
Current Need - Phase 3: Increased Power
Current Need - Phase 3: Increased Power
We have successfully installed a new fusebox and replaced most of the lighting in the Newman Center after a very succesful Raise the Roof 2.0: Electrify the Newman Campaign.
The final phase is to replace the original 600 amp one-phase power and upgrade to 1,000 amp three-phase power as required by the City. Consider the amount of electricty intended for this building in 1964 remains the capacity. This is a great need and no other construction or updating will happen until we finish this final phase!
GOAL: $90,000
Reached: $35,000
Remaining Need: $55,000
Note: Non "Newman Birthday Gifts in phase two were poured into phase three and are included in the above total.
1964 Notice skylights in use with four flour lamps. At some point the sklyights were covered and that is when ceiling lighting in the Newman was installed. Consider most of the ceiling lighting was not intended!
2024 Lamps hang from ceiling and floor outlets are used for student electronics and a/c units. So much more electricity is used today than was expected in 1964!
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