Purdue News

December 7, 1998 University Hall classes relocated until spring semester WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Most faculty offices in Purdue University's wind-damaged University Hall should be ready for reoccupation Tuesday, (12/8), but classes in the building won't resume until the spring semester starts, Purdue's vice president for physical facilities said. Wayne W. Kjonaas said a preliminary estimate puts the cost of emergency repairs to Purdue's oldest building at $100,000. High winds stripped away about one-quarter of the building's roof and damaged the cupola. Falling debris broke a water-sprinkler pipe, which caused water damage throughout the building. An estimate on the cost of compete repairs is not yet available. Classes scheduled in the building have been reassigned to other locations. Although most of the 48 faculty and staff who work there will able to be reoccupy their offices by Tuesday, those in areas with the worst damage will be reassigned temporarily to other rooms in the building. The Office of Space Management and Academic Scheduling has established a Web site at http://www.purdue.edu/SMAS/univ.html with information about the relocated classes. Signs also are posted in the Purdue Armory and outside University Hall directing students to alternate classrooms, said Joseph L. Bennett, vice president for university relations. The building's 16 classrooms accommodate up to 27,000 student class meetings each week. Kjonaas said the cupola, which now is unstable, will be removed later this week and every effort will be made to restore the roof and cupola to their original conditions. Because that work will involve closing exits, the building will not be able to accommodate a large number of people. That led to the decision to reopen offices but not classrooms until next semester, which begins Jan. 11, he said. University Hall, completed in 1877, is the oldest surviving building on the West Lafayette campus. The Victorian-style, spired building overlooks Memorial Mall and the gravesite of the university's founding benefactor, John Purdue. In addition to classrooms, University Hall houses the Department of History. Source: Joseph L. Bennett, (765) 494-2082; e-mail, joe_bennett@purdue.edu Wayne Kjonnas, (765) 494-8000; e-mail, wwkjonaas@physfac.purdue.edu Writer: Jeanne Norberg, (765) 494-2084; e-mail, jeanne_norberg@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page