The Quad

Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: News

Construction will continue on schedule at 25 University Avenue, formerly known as Swope Hall on West Chester University's campus.

For a while now, various students and faculty alike have observed general hired contractors removing and dumping debris from second floor windows out of the old music building. It was common knowledge that the building contained contaminant materials, such as mold and asbestos. However, all of the debris has been removed, according to Dee Giardina, executive director of Facilities Design and Construction for WCU.

An industrial hygienist had worked with the general contracting company, Caldwell, Heckles and Egan, Inc. of Lancaster, Pa., to tag and label all hazardous material inside the building containing asbestos or other contaminants.

Thankfully, there are several agencies that oversee such public projects. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection (PA DOE), Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (PA L&I) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). There are harsh penalties for failing to dispose contaminated materials, which include going to jail.

The construction and renovation work was expected to be completed over the summer. "We are still on target," Giardina said. We will be open by fall semester."

The building will have classrooms and offices for the mathematics, computer science and information assurances departments.

The ground floor of the building will serve as the office of the registrar, bursar, financial aid and associate provost.

After student service offices move from their location presently in the E.O. Bull Center, the Bull Center itself will be reconfigurated to house the theatre, art and dance departments. To date, the Bull Center project is expected to begin during the Spring 2009 semester. Giardina confirms this. The resulting goal is for the project to be completed for the Fall 2010 school semester.

Giardina stated that she believed that this project would not stray from its target date like past contruction projects have.

Anyone interested in all construction and renovation projects, which include plans to demolish and build five new residence halls beginning in 2009, may be found on the facilities department Web site through the University's homepage.

Kerry Barth is a professional studies major with a minor in journalism and can be reached at kb358328@wcupa.edu.

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