The Office of Facilities Management and Planning began replacing windows and repairing brickwork on Copeland Hall in summer 2025 to help extend the building’s life and improve energy efficiency. The $1 million project, led by RMV Construction, is scheduled to be completed in November.
The construction is intended to make Copeland Hall more functional and comfortable for faculty and students.
“As the facilities director, one of my main concerns is the condition of the buildings,” said Michael Cremers, UNK director of facilities. “It’s really allowing us to bring our buildings up to speed and make them as functional as possible for the students and faculty that use them.”
Previous updates to Copeland Hall included a roof replacement, but the current project is focusing on window replacement and brick tuckpointing. Tuckpointing is a masonry technique where old or damaged mortar between bricks is removed and replaced with fresh mortar to help strengthen the wall and improve the overall appearance. These improvements are being made to help resolve leaks, heating and cooling issues and structural wear.
The project is being funded through LB 384, which is a partnership between UNK and the Nebraska Legislature to address deferred maintenance needs campus-wide. Other efforts that have been funded through the initiative include roof and window replacements in other buildings, as well as remodels like the Calvin T. Ryan Library and Warner Hall.
Planning for the work in Copeland Hall began months before construction. Design firms created detailed plans that were publicly bid to contractors. UNK’s facilities management and planning department worked to schedule disruptive parts of the project during the summer when fewer students were on campus. RMV Construction, the selected contractor, has worked closely with campus officials to limit disruptions once classes resumed for the fall semester.
While the contractors and campus officials are working hard to keep the project from being disruptive, it has not gone unnoticed.
“I can’t hear the construction, but I have to walk the long way to class because of the equipment outside,” said Maddy Province, a UNK junior majoring in elementary education. “It’s super annoying.”
The project has also faced challenges that go beyond logistics. Cremers said identifying funding and prioritizing which buildings need to be addressed first has been a balancing act. With the campus being used year-round for multiple things, it is hard to find a good time to work without interrupting classes.
Even with the challenges, the outcomes are expected to make a noticeable difference. Once the project is completed, the new windows and brick repairs will help improve airtightness, reduce drafts and modernize the building’s overall appearance.
Once Copeland Hall is complete, focus will shift over to HVAC and control system updates to help climate control campus-wide. Copeland Hall is one of the buildings receiving HVAC upgrades. The HVAC budget is $500,000.
Work on the HVAC has started simultaneously with the window project in Copeland Hall. Once all of this is completed, Copeland Hall should be up to date on repairs.
“So I’m hopeful in the end it will be worth it,” Cremers said.
