When flooding in the ISUB/TLC damaged a transformer in the basement, it affected electricity in the entire building, including heat, lights, outlets and AV usage. Once a new transformer was located and installed, which required the pouring of concrete outside to hold it, lines from the transformer were routed into the building, and systems were slowly brought back up to ensure everything was functional.
“As we finished final repairs, a fuse was needed. Neither UI nor Avista had the fuse,” UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker said. “Ed Schweitzer from Schweitzer Engineering and his team located one in Portland and had a plane returning from Denver rerouted to Portland to pick up the part.”
Final testing of all systems happened over Thanksgiving break and the building fully reopened on Dec. 2.
“Bringing a large building like the ISUB back on-line requires diligence and patience to ensure stability and safety,” Walker said.
ICYMI: ISUB/TLC closure displaces employees, classrooms
With everything tallied, the repairs are estimated at $75,000 to $100,000 and will not impact the overall university deficit, Walker said. The cost is paid through the facilities annual budget for maintenance and operation that exists to pay for repairs of a similar nature.
All employees, student and otherwise, were relocated and continued to work during the closure, while food service workers were relocated within Sodexo. Many workers forced to move to new spaces during the closure expressed a sense of camaraderie with other displaced employees.
“For me it showed how important it is to have a central student location on campus,” ASUI President Jacob Lockhart said. “We take these spaces for granted sometimes and I think this showed us to be more appreciative of the space we have and to recognize that it makes a huge impact for people.”
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @angelapalermo7