Thursday June 12, 2003 Online Since 1996 Vol. 77 No. 51

The Appalachian | News
Fire, insurance delay LLC completion date By Leslie Rasimas
Staff Writer

James Nix | The Appalachian
Work continued on the Living-Learning Center until a May fire in the academic portion of the building caused significant delays. The project cannot be completed until insurance claims are settled.
    A fire in the new Living-Learning Center caused approximately $600,000 in smoke damage and put the project six weeks behind schedule.
    Spontaneous combustion or a painter’s cigarette caused the fire, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane P. Helm said Friday at the Board of Trustees meeting.
    The fire started in the academic wing of the building.
    “Not only do we have the damage but because of insurance companies—everyone has an insurance company—we can’t do anything about it until the insurance companies come to an agreement, or else we’ll be responsible for the full costs,” Helm said.
    “It’s very hard to collect liquidated damages because it’s been used. The real problem for us is that … now we’re having to move all the classes that we’d scheduled in the learning portion because they’re not going to be ready in time. It was just one of those fluke things you never expect to happen,” she said.
    Dr. Clyde D. Robbins, director of design and construction, said the University Bookstore and the solarium are behind schedule and on budget.
    “Both of those projects are at least four months behind,” Robbins said.
    The new Student Recreation Center, phase III of the Turchin Center for Visual Arts, Walker Hall renovation and Founders Hall renovation are on schedule, he said.
    “The [regional chiller building] next to the post office will be complete within two weeks,” he said.
    Elevator replacement in Gardner and Coltrane residence halls is on schedule, as is the artificial turf replacement in Kidd Brewer Stadium, Robbins said.
    The expansion of B.B. Dougherty Administration Building is on schedule and over budget, Robbins said.
    The Library & Information Commons is on schedule and under budget, he said. Construction on the project began June 2. The area is now closed to pedestrians, and College Street has been closed.
    “Between the library, the work on the Turchin Center and the Rankin Science annex, we are going to have that part of campus—and the bookstore and student union work—just really under construction. We’ll need a map to get around there,” Helm said.		  
Contact Us