TETER-Sponsored Air Quality Research project is featured on KSEE 24 Newscast.

Originally broadcast on YourCentralValley.Com on April 2, 2021 by Justin Sacher

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – It’s new technology getting installed in school ventilation systems all over the world to combat coronavirus. Pinpoint bipolar ionization is about to undergo some special research and testing at Fresno State.

Local ventilation engineers believe the technology could prove useful with wildfire smoke pollution and cutting cooling costs in extreme heat.

Mechanical engineer Jon Schlundt works for TETER Architects and Engineers in Fresno. He designs air and climate installations for facilities like schools, including new pinpoint bipolar ionization technology,

“The technology is no bigger than this little coaster… It’s mounted inside your equipment. It has two wire leads on it that gets tapped off your electrical feed in that equipment already.“

Ionization technology has helped sterilize the air in industrial environments for decades. It’s wasn’t safe for general use because of the dangerous amounts of ozone generated. A more recent development called “pinpoint” or “needlepoint” bipolar ionization technology has eliminated this problem through precise control. The technology is in high demand right now because it’s also proven effective against the Coronavirus.

Schlundt says, “One of the solutions to the pandemic was open windows, open doors, get that fresh air in there so you can keep air circulation high. It’s hard to that when it’s smoky outside and very hazardous to let all that smoke into your house or classroom setting or into an office. How do we combat that is a big part.”

Schlundt is now leading a local industry group and partnered with Fresno State to better research the technology with an eye to particular benefits in the Valley.

“We’re really focused on the Central Valley. Smoke, pollen… Then why can’t we also use that to increase energy efficiencies, get lower-rated filters to perform better.”

Coronavirus has been the primary subject for most testing. Research on other pollutants such as wildfire smoke has not caught up. Neither have studies on how the technology can be further incorporated in heating and cooling systems to streamline efficiency. Now that science has answered the important coronavirus questions, Schlundt believes it’s a great time to explore how bipolar ionization can benefit Valley residents — especially as so many schools and offices now have it.

You may be more familiar with ionization than you know.

A wool sock in a clothes dryer often ends up sticking to other fabrics because of static electricity. In ionization technology, electricity is used to charge oxygen atoms and attract them to particles which makes them clump together. This makes it easier to remove very small particles from the air.

The test equipment will be delivered to Fresno State next week.

Schlundt says, “I think a lot of us are excited to see what the results are going to show and we’re expecting to see those results in the June to July timeframe.”

Two TETER Partners and Architects featured in The Business Journal

Megan Chang, TETER Associate and Engineer, Voice of Reason Opinion is featured the the Zweig Letter.

The new Orosi High School sports complex is an amazing facility for the high school and community. The expanded baseball, football and soccer facilities will greatly support the athletic, emotional and social development of the Orosi High School students.

“TETER is so excited to be a part of another great project with Cutler Orosi Joint Unified School District. We are especially pleased that the community will have use of these facilities for community sports and that everyone can use the splash park and exercise track. This new facility is another step toward completing the district facility master plan and a huge step towards “Building a Better Valley”. – Robert Thornton, TETER Partner and Architect of Record

Watch ABC30 Action News’ coverage of the grand opening ceremonies

Originally broadcast on ABC30 Action News on October 21, 2020

OROSI, Calif. (KFSN) — The Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District celebrated their new sports complex on Tuesday.

The complex is located next to Orosi High School and includes a splash pad, playground, and fields for football, soccer, softball, and baseball.

The project is six years in the making, and was funded in part by Measure E.

Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero says it will be a place where the community’s youth can build relationships with peers and practice sportsmanship.

“This sports complex reflects the improvement to community and the wherewithal by leaders who dreamed big and worked hard to give back to Cutler and Orosi,” he added.

There’s still more to come for the school district. A new auditorium, aquatic complex, and gymnasium are in the planning stages.

News Story Credit: ABC Action News Brian Johnson

Raffi Soghomonian (COJUSD Maintenance Operations and Transportation Director) and Robert Thornton (TETER Partner & Architect)

Superintendent Yolanda Valdez points to the new Orosi Sports Park.

(Left to right): Mike Durant (TETER Construction Administrator), Arnoldo Espindola (TETER Project Manager), Yolanda Valdez (COJUSD Superintendent) and Robert Thornton (TETER Partner/Architect)

Ground breaking on New Sheriff’s HQ, designed by TETER, is featured on ABC30 Action News.

Originally broadcast on ABC30 Action News on October 5, 2020 by Jason Oliveria

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Kings County is getting a new sheriff’s headquarters in Hanford.

Officials broke ground Monday on the more than $8 million project that will also feature a community room for the public.

County leaders joined Sheriff David Robinson for the ceremonial turning of the dirt at the building’s future location near the jailhouse.

“As far as my career goes and my last ten years as sheriff, this is definitely a career highlight and it’s pretty amazing,” said Sheriff David Robinson.

Kings County Sheriff David Robinson

The new facility will double the current bulding’s size to about 15,000 square feet and will cost $8.2 million.

Assemblymember Rudy Salas is credited with securing $7 million from Sacramento to help make the project a reality.

“This will be a more permanent place for the sheriff’s office and hopefully will be a solution for the next 50-plus years, so I’m very proud to be a part of that,” said Assemblymember Salas.

Assemblymember Rudy Salas

“With the support of the Board of Supervisors on a 5-0 vote, they voted to add $1.2 million more to this project to make sure this project got done,” said Sheriff Robinson.

The department has operated out of its current building on Lacey Boulevard since 1964 and when the new jail was built in 2007, the jail and headquarters were separated.

The new facility will be located next to the jail, making it easier to book suspects or for employees to walk from one building to the next.

“Now that they’re literally going to be next-door neighbors and right next to each other, it’s going to bring more efficiency in. We have managers that will be able to communicate directly and within just a few steps, we’re going to have people that can communicate and work together on things,” said Sheriff Robinson.

Construction will begin right away with an estimated completion date by early 2022.

News Story Credit: ABC Action News Reporter Jason Oliveira