Building repairs force Alumni Center move

The Office of Alumni Relations has moved from the Sweeten Center, located at 3533 Locust Walk, to the off-campus site of 4200 Pine Street due to renovations being done on the building's air ducts. Director of Alumni Relations Doris Cochran-Fikes said the offices were moved in early January after some staff members complained of upper respiratory problems. "Over time the insufficient air circulation led to a buildup of moisture," she said. "This caused some mold to collect in the air ducts." Colleen Reardon, the facilities administrator for development and alumni relations, said the mold is essentially the same type of mold that is found in the air. But because of the problems with the air ducts, a greater concentration of mold than normal was in the building, she added. Staff members who were susceptible to hay fever or who had allergies were the ones that developed upper respiratory problems, Reardon said. The ducts are currently being cleaned and removed and the building's air conditioning and heating system is being replaced, Cochran-Fikes said. Because of all the work that will be required to renovate the Sweeten Center, Cochran-Fikes said she feels it made more sense to relocate the office temporarily rather than staying in the building and moving around. "It seemed much more wise to move us out," she said. Currently, the Sweeten Center has one unit for air conditioning and heating. In order to separate the air conditioning system from the heating system, new ducts must be installed, Reardon added. Once renovations are complete, the building will also be repainted and new rugs will be put in on the second and third floors, Cochran-Fikes said. Reardon said the Alumni Relations Office should be able to move back to the Sweeten Center by mid-April, leaving plenty of time before graduation festivities in May. "Everybody will be back in time for commencement and Alumni weekend," she said. Meanwhile, Cochran-Fikes said she and other staff members in the Alumni Relations Office are enjoying their stay at 4200 Pine. "They have more common space [at 4200 Pine] than they do in the Sweeten Center," Reardon added. The offices are located on the first floor of the building, which Reardon said is a converted mansion. The building is owned by the University and is managed by University Campus Associates, Cochran- Fikes said. And although the offices are no longer at the center of campus, Cochran-Fikes said she thinks the move did not have any negative impact on the work being done in the office. She added that being off-campus actually makes work a little easier. "It is a whole lot easier to concentrate at 4200 Pine," she said. "The focus is increased by being here."