From the missing ceiling tiles to the water stained-concrete, it is obvious that the EMU needs some work. Students often complain about the lack of outlets or the outdated color scheme, but the real problems lie within the building — and these are much more serious.
There are rooms full of buckets collecting water from leaks that can’t be fixed. Rust covers the valves containing the main water source for the building. Numerous pipes are being held together with duct tape.
While a 2007 study focused only on the EMU vents, the last complete Facility Condition Assessment was done in 2002. This full assessment, commissioned by EMU Facilities Director Dana Winitzky, was completed by an architect, a structural engineer, a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer and an energy consultant.
It produced some shocking results.
It suggested many of the floors in the older sections of the building need to be replaced because much of the vinyl tile contains asbestos. There are also places where lead-based paint was used.
Also according to the assessment, “The exposed building systems at the ceiling appear to be in generally good condition, but the fire-proofing material applied to the underside of the deck may contain asbestos.”
Another section discussed the fact that the building is not seismically safe and “the damage that may occur from a strong earthquake could endanger the building occupants.”
The document states the “mechanical systems are well-maintained but are too old to be reliable.” It explains the centrifugal fans should have a life span of about 20 years, but these have been used for more than 50. According to Winitzky, these fans cannot be replaced because this model is no longer manufactured.
The electrical system is outdated and needs an overhaul: “The electrical rooms are full and cannot be expanded in their present locations,” the assessment said.
All of these problems cannot be fixed until the building has a complete overhaul, but the renovation is at a standstill. The entire project has been wrapped in controversy. First, the ASUO executive had to fight for a student vote, then the administration hired a PR firm to help plan a campaign to gain support, which caused even more uncertainty. Students are concerned with paying for something they will not get to use and are unsure about student space.
However, this assessment shows that something needs to be done to fix these problems that have only worsened since the document was released.