Just before 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, a six-inch water main inside the building failed, according to Daniel B. Campbell, Assistant Director of Facilities.
“The flooding caused much of the mechanical and electrical equipment in the sub-basement mechanical room to be submerged,” damaging the building’s the main electrical breaker and other equipment, explained Campbell.
Physical Plant acted quickly to address the problem: “First the water and power supplies to the building were disconnected and the space was pumped out. The failed water pipe was repaired. Next all of the equipment in the space had to be disassembled, dried and tested.”
After Facilities staff ascertained the damage to the breaker, they worked through the night, contacting local suppliers to obtain the parts and equipment needed to get the building back on line by 1:00 PM on Wednesday. Campbell estimated the total cost of the repairs at $30,000 to $50,000.
Despite the timely response, the flooding disturbed the normal function of classes at Fayerweather. Professor of the History of Art Natasha Staller, who both teaches and has her office in the building, called the problem “massively disruptive.” Both Staller and Professor of Art and the History of Art Joel M. Upton had to cancel their classes. Upton was able to move one of his classes to Merrill Science Center, which he called “a very poor substitute for the splendid teaching spaces in Fayerweather.”
Professor of Art Carol W. Keller was forced to move her Sculpture I class outside, but said that although the change “was not what any of us had anticipated, the fine weather and the advent of spring made the departure from our usual venue pleasant.”
Keller continued, “The greatest hardship in the department was probably borne by the studio thesis students, who were in their last four days of finishing work prior to installing their thesis exhibition.” For two days, they had no access to vital equipment and facilities.
One of the studio thesis students, Nicole Campbell ’09, described the situation as “stressful.” “There was this immense fear that the sprinklers would activate and all our hard work would be ruined,” she said. “That could have been catastrophic.” Fortunately, the flooding did not extend beyond the sub-basement into the artists’ work areas.
Ultimately, she said, no permanent harm was done: “We worked hard this weekend and we’re all caught up.”