Lowder Hall Status
Update - August 4, 2016
Restoration of Lowder Hall, following the June 27, 2016 fire, is on track for complete use of the facility for the Fall 2016 semester.
All of the faculty/staff in the building have been able to return to their offices.
Classrooms are being restored and are scheduled to be complete about a week prior to the beginning of the semester. Two-ground floor classrooms are already in use.
There are still a few items that remain to be completed such as painting in hallways, some carpet installation and testing of the fire alarm system, but for such a large overall effort, it is 97 percent complete at this point. Belfor, the restoration contractor, plans to finish the majority of its remaining work by Monday, Aug. 8 and will be leaving the site on that day (but may still have a small crew available for a few days). Facilities Management may have a few items following their departure (testing access controls or fire alarms) but all is on track to be ready for the Fall semester.
July 27, 2016
Restoration and recovery work continues on the ground and first floors of Lowder Hall. The recovery efforts remain on track for the following:
- Raymond J. Harbert College of Business staff (located on the first and second floors) to move in by the end of the week.
- All classrooms ready for use for the start of the Fall 2016 semester.
- Starbucks to re-open on Aug. 15, 2016.
Portions of Lowder Hall re-open for faculty and staff - July 15, 2016
Faculty and staff in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business returned to work at Lowder Hall for the first time since an early morning electrical fire forced the closure of the building on Monday, June 27.
Faculty and staff were cleared to reoccupy the building’s third, fourth and fifth floors on Friday, July 15. Ground floor and first floor classrooms will re-open for fall semester classes in August, according to Bruce Arnold, assistant director of maintenance of Auburn University Facilities Management.
Ground floor, first floor and second floor classroom, lab, and office areas remain closed for cleaning. Belfor, a disaster recovery and property restoration company, has worked to restore the building’s functionality since the afternoon of June 27. As many as 250 contractors and sub-contractors have worked at a given time to clean smoke and soot damage from floors and walls, and deodorize and purify air. The company’s thorough approach to the restoration process included an employee watering plants in faculty and staff offices during the closure.
The Harbert College of Business’ summer classes were relocated due to the fire. A complete schedule of classes can be found here:
http://harbert.auburn.edu/binaries/documents/AlternateClassroomListForLowderHall.pdf
Parking Map Update: Thursday, June 30, 2016
Update: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 (4:50 p.m.) - The property restoration team from Belfor continues assessing fire-damaged areas and cleaning the building today. The power and air conditioning have been restored to all floors except the 1st floor. The entire building is expected to remain closed this week. It is likely that employees will be cleared to occupy the 4th and 5th floors as early as next week. The east side of the parking lot behind the building is now open.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What happened?
A fire broke out on the 1st floor of Lowder Hall around 5 a.m. on Monday, June 27, 2016. Damage from the fire and smoke will keep the building closed until further notice. No one was injured.
What started the fire?
The Alabama Fire Marshal’s office has determined the likely cause of the fire was electrical and originated from a light and ballast on the first floor.
What damage was caused by the fire?
The fire was largely contained to the seating area in the corridor on the south end of the first floor. This area was severely burned. Extensive smoke damage occurred in the first floor hallways, and some of the classrooms on that floor. Minor smoke damage occurred elsewhere on the first floor and the floors above. Some smoke and water damage occurred on the ground floor.
What is being done at this time to restore Lowder Hall?
Several activities are underway. First, teams from Risk Management and Safety, OIT and Facilities Management are assessing the damage throughout the building to determine what it will take in the way of cleaning and repairs to restore the building. Concurrently with that work, a fire restoration contractor, BELFOR, is on site and conducting fire debris clean up on the first floor, as well as smoke residue clean up on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors. The building continues to be ventilated and air scrubbers are being used to remove smoke particles out of the air in the building.
What is the plan for restoring the building?
Since the full extent of damage to the building is not known, the scope of work to restore the building is unknown at this time. However, a phased, triage-like approach will be used to determine: (1) the cleanup work needed to allow personnel back in some of the spaces in July 2016; (2) the clean-up work and minor repair work needed to have some of the impacted classrooms available by the start of the Fall 2016 semester; and (3) the major repair work to replace and rebuild the damaged areas in building (largely the first floor) which will be done during Fall/Spring 2016.
When will I be able to go back to work in my office?
Possibly as early as the first week of July. The university has contracted with Belfor to clean and restore the building. They are starting on the 5th floor area and will be working their way down floor by floor.
Where can I hold office hours?
The dean’s office suggests using the student center or the library for office hours. There may be other spaces, such as conference rooms, available in the buildings in which your classes are held. Check with the business office in those buildings to determine availability.
Will non-exempt workers be paid during this time?
All non-exempt, TES and work study students will be paid their regularly scheduled hours during the time the building is closed. Cynthia Philpot will contact you if there are any issues, but also feel free to contact Cynthia for more information at spinkca@auburn.edu.
When will we be able to re-enter the building to retrieve our personal items?
If you were not able to access the building during the designated time on Monday, or if you need additional materials, email Dean Bill Hardgrave at bch0014@auburn.edu.
Can I move my office furnishings to a different location on campus?
No. Please do not remove furnishings of any kind (chairs, stools, etc.) from the building. Everything must be cleaned and inspected before it can be removed.
When will classes resume in Lowder Hall?
It is not known at this time. Classes resumed on Tuesday, June 28, in alternate locations. Students should have been contacted by their professor, and a document listing the classroom changes can be found at http://harbert.auburn.edu/binaries/documents/AlternateClassroomListForLowderHall.pdf.
When will the Starbucks in Lowder re-open?
Starbucks is closed until further notice, although efforts are being made to reopen as soon as possible.
Who should I contact to reschedule my event planned to be held in Lowder Hall?
Please contact Wendy Perry, Harbert College event coordinator, at perrywe@auburn.edu.
Where is Camp War Eagle for the Harbert College of Business?
The Harbert College of Business academic advising session for students and parents that takes place on the second day of Camp War Eagle (8:30-10:30am) will be held in the Student Center ballroom.