Danger, keep out: Buildings under construction

The northeastern quarter of the quad looks more like a marshmallow than a building. Raitt Hall, which is completely covered by a white sheet, is being treated for asbestos (abated). The covering encloses scaffolding set up all around the building, ensuring the workspace is completely blocked off from the outside world.

Inside, however, it's business as usual. Classes in Scandanavian studies, digital arts, CSDE and nutritional studies -- all headquartered in Raitt Hall -- are continuing throughout the abatement. With everything completely closed off, it's hard to tell what the weather is doing and many miss the view. Air conditioning was installed to keep the buildings from getting too stuffy and fresh air flowing through.

The abatement is scheduled to be complete by January 2006.

Guggenheim Hall

Guggenheim Hall, home of the aeronautics and astronomy departments, will go under construction this spring to receive seismic upgrades to help it withstand earthquakes. It will also be outfitted with a new entrance on its north side.

The interior of the building will have to be gutted, said project manager Lara Branigan in the Capital Projects office, while its windows and ventilation system are replaced. According to her, planners are working hard to retain the building's architectural charm despite the amount of work needed inside.

"Every effort has been made to preserve historical elements of the hall," she said.

Johnson Hall

Work began on Johnson Hall in April 2004. Johnson houses the department of earth and space sciences, which has operated from Condon Hall since the start of the renovations. The original building, which was constructed in 1930, contained leaky ceilings and several sources of asbestos. At one point, the building's drinking fountains had to be removed because rusted pipes were contaminating the water.

Johnson Hall is expected to re-open during winter 2006, and geophysics students will have clean water again.