Campus grandam undergoes repairs
by Bernie Scheffler, ne news editor

    (Final in a four-part series about maintaining campus facilities.)

   Some South Campus facilities will undergo serious renovations this summer to eliminate roof leaks and improve accessibility.

   “We’ve got plans and we’re ready to go. We’re just waiting for approval,” David Waldrop, assistant plant superintendent, said.

   South Campus is the oldest of the four TCC campuses, completed in September 1967. Surprisingly, however, the campus’ most serious maintenance problem is not necessarily age-related.

   Waldrop said roof leaks in many campus buildings resulted from damage inflicted by the infamous 1995 hailstorm that hit the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

   “The hailstorm in 1995 was the most damaging thing that happened to this campus,” he said.

   As a result of the storm damage, many campus buildings have had roof-leak problems for several years.

   The leaks have resulted in both damage to the buildings and possible health concerns.

   Health concerns arose after black mold was discovered in the basement of the Learning Resources Center.

   The mold was discovered when the instructional media area under the library flooded after heavy spring rains.

   The water leak has been a problem for years, but when boxes were being moved to avoid the flood, black mold was found.

   Black mold thrives in moist, warm environments and can cause serious health problems for individuals allergic to it.

   However, the mold is harmless to those without an allergy to it.

   Since the leaks in the basement worsened and the mold was discovered, the basement has been closed.

   “The mold is a problem, but so is having water drop on your head when you’re trying to work,” Waldrop said.

   “Fixing the leaks will keep the mold from forming,” he said.

   The first step in the project will be to remove any existing black mold from the building.

   Then the building will be renovated to eliminate leaks and water damage.

   “We’ll be demolishing the existing structures, replacing the ceiling and installing a new lining,” he said.

   Another building facing serious leak problems is the Rotunda (RTA).

   RTA 132 and 133 (large meeting rooms) also will undergo renovation this summer.

   These rooms will get new ceilings and linings, as well as cosmetic improvements.

   “We’re going to install new luxurious seating and raise up the pit to make it more handicap accessible,” Waldrop said.

   “We’ll also install a green room behind the stage for speakers to use before they go onto the stage,” he said.

   The RTA will also have repairs done to the hallways to repair water damage there, he said.

   The RTA will be the first building renovated this summer. RTA 132 and 133 will be closed beginning Friday, May 10. The entire RTA will then be closed July 10-August 20.

   Also awaiting approval are plans to improve some science lecture halls and the recital hall.

   In lecture halls with tiered seating, plans are to raise the lower areas to make them more easily handicap accessible.

   Also being considered are the installation of stationary tables with movable seating and the addition of multimedia display systems.

   The recital hall, a 200-seat theater in the fine arts complex, will also get new, more comfortable seating, Waldrop said.

   The final project being undertaken on South Campus is the renovation of the pool in the Gym.

   The renovation has been approved and is currently in the planning stages.