The Goldwater Center will remain closed until Monday, one week after a water pipe burst and sent water gushing from the sixth floor.
Polly Pinney, associate director of Facilities Management, said the cause remained unknown, but it appeared to be partly caused by stress on one of the pipe joints.
“The reality is, pipes break,” Pinney said. “Those things on occasion will happen.”
Pinney said it was too early to estimate the cost of the damages, but it will likely include expensive computer and electrical equipment.
The building is home to research and computer labs, as well as 200 to 300 offices. Displaced office tenants moved in with colleagues around campus.
Confused students continued to wander into the lobby Wednesday looking for information on the status of their classes and advising appointments.
Computer systems engineering junior Robert Flasher scanned the dozens of fliers posted outside, looking for a notice from his instructor telling him where to go for his lab.
“I have a computer demo to do,” he said. “Maybe it’s just not due, I mean, I’m hoping.”
The entire building was evacuated Monday as water began pouring from the piping.
Some people were let back into the building to retrieve personal items, but only for short periods of time and after showing identification at the door.
Undeclared freshman Jason Van Allsburg tried to go into the building to declare his major, but was told he would have to wait.
“I just needed to talk to an adviser, but I guess I’ll just wait.” he said. “It’s kind of disappointing.”
Workers will continue to remove carpeting and ceiling tiles that were ruined by the water. An outside company was brought in to help dry the walls and get people back into the building.
Reach Lauren Carney at
lauren_carney@hotmail.com.
