Shortly after classes started in the fall of 2007, an elevator fire in the four-story science building caused minor fire damage and major smoke damage throughout the 40,000 sf. Classroom building. The fire also caused minor smoke damage to four other connecting campus buildings including faculty offices, a lecture hall, cafeteria and a bookstore.
The University was concerned about loss of use of laboratory classrooms for chemistry, physics and biology classes which couldn’t simply be moved to another classroom building, so they hired GuideOne Taylor Ball to begin restoration quickly so classes could resume as soon as possible. GuideOne Taylor Ball planned and managed cleaning of every surface in the building including sensitive laboratory equipment, computers and electronics; replaced carpeting, acoustical ceilings and lighting; installed a new fire alarm system; and repainted the entire building. Chemical exhaust hoods had to be dismantled, cleaned and then reassembled. |
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A unique challenge was to remove smoke damage from plank-form natural finished exposed concrete walls in two large stairwells. Sealing and painting the surface was not an option, so GuideOne Taylor Ball blasted the surfaces with dry ice which can be finely controlled and evaporates after blasting the smoke particles off the wall.
Some laboratory classes were held in the building during restoration, and classes resumed throughout the building at the start of second semester, in January 2008.
