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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
NSU Names Central Energy Plant for Hill York’s Robert S. Lafferty Sr.
Hill York Innovator Brought Air Conditioning to South Florida High Rises/Hotels
Celebrating at the naming ceremony of NSU’s Robert S. Lafferty Sr. Central Energy Plant are (from l. to r.) Chip Lafferty, chief executive officer, Hill York; Mary Jean Lafferty, Chip’s wife; Lauren Alfino, a freshman majoring in marine biology and first recipient of the Charles W. Daniels Endowed Scholarship, Dr. George L. Hanbury ll, NSU president and CEO; Joan Lafferty, Robert’s wife; Robert S. Lafferty Jr., Chairman, Hill York; and Robert W. Lafferty Jr.
As Fort Lauderdale temperatures rose into the mid 90s, the family of Robert S. Lafferty Sr. gathered today at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Central Energy Plant to honor his memory by naming the chiller facility—one of the largest in the United States— after him. A pioneer in the air conditioning industry, Lafferty had the vision of air conditioning South Florida’s high-rises and hotels back in the ‘50s. Hill York and the Lafferty Family Foundation have made a significant gift to the university.
“The Lafferty family has been working with NSU for more than two decades,” said NSU’s President and CEO George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D. “Hill York has been part of NSU’s design, development and construction team as the campus has grown and they continue to be at NSU every day to keep us cool.”
“This generous gift, which includes the Charles W. Daniels Endowed Scholarship Fund to benefit NSU undergraduate students, demonstrates Hill York’s continued commitment to a bright future for NSU students,” Dr. Hanbury said. This gift will enable young men and women to attend NSU who would not be able to be here without the generosity of the Lafferty family.
Charles W. Daniels was the father-in-law of Robert S. Lafferty Jr., chairman of Hill York. The first scholarship recipient is Lauren Alfino, a freshman from Denver, Colorado, who is studying marine biology, spoke at the naming ceremony.
“My dad was known for his innovative ideas,” explained Robert S. Lafferty Jr. “Look around Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties at all the high-rise apartment buildings. Probably 95 percent of them, starting with the Kenilworth House in 1956, used my dad’s design. That is quite a feat.”
“Charles W. Daniels, whose nickname was Chip, taught me about relationships, and doing deals based on trust,” said Chip Lafferty, chief executive officer of Hill York. “It’s not a coincidence that this is how we do business at NSU. For 25 years now, we have worked together, through a maturing relationship and trust.”
NSU’s Robert S. Lafferty Sr. Central Energy Plant was designed and built for the university and recognized as one of the largest energy storage systems in the United States. The three-story, state-of-the-art structure is expected to save the university more than $500,000 annually or $17.3 million over the life of the plant. It provides cooling that is both energy efficient and, at the same time, environmentally friendly.