Spring Break
Doomed, But Not Quite Yet
Despite Being Slated For Destruction, Arjona Undergoes Repairs
Christopher Duray
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: News
The Arjona Building was built in 1959 and while it was impressive at that time, it has since decayed to the point where the building will be torn down and buildings to replace them have been planned for completion by 2011.
Despite this, astute students may have noticed that minor construction efforts were underway last week on the buildings. The major point of the construction was the stairs, which were deemed unsafe. Construction workers removed the uneven and eroding bluestone in the stairs facing Mansfield Road and replaced it with concrete. In addition to this, on the other side of the building, work was done to repair a steam leak and reinforce piping before the wintertime created further problems.
Some students don't see the need for the minor construction, considering that a new building is supposedly being planned.
"Starting renovation seems like a waste of money since it doesn't strike me as necessary," said 5th-semester classics and ancient Mediterranean studies major Brian Manotok, who takes all of his classes at Arjona. "Even though the building is old, the stairs function fine. It seems kind of superfluous since they're tearing it down. They could have used the money for fans for every room instead."
Dave Lotreck, manager of buildings and grounds defended the work.
"All of the construction is safety related, it's not aesthetic," he said. "As much as I don't like wasting money, I also don't like doing something to compromise the safety of the students."
"We're not going to say that the building isn't going to be safe just because it's coming down," Lotreck said. "We have a responsibility."
The money for the repairs was taken out of the general operating budget. Lotreck was unable to remember the exact sum for what the repairs cost, but said "[the cost] wasn't dramatic, it was much less than if someone had fallen and gotten hurt and needed medical attention."
Lotreck also defended his budget by noting he used the more inexpensive and equally strong concrete to repair the broken sections of the stairs, rather than hiring a stonemason to cut and install more bluestone, which would have matched the surrounding stone and been more aesthetically pleasing.
"I think the old stairs were in need of repair, and since we're one of the highest rated state schools, we should stay up to code," said Sven Englund, a 3rd-semester psychology major. "Besides, the new building won't be done anytime soon, so necessary repairs should be made to the building."
Contact Chris Duray at
Christopher.Duray@UConn.edu.
Despite this, astute students may have noticed that minor construction efforts were underway last week on the buildings. The major point of the construction was the stairs, which were deemed unsafe. Construction workers removed the uneven and eroding bluestone in the stairs facing Mansfield Road and replaced it with concrete. In addition to this, on the other side of the building, work was done to repair a steam leak and reinforce piping before the wintertime created further problems.
Some students don't see the need for the minor construction, considering that a new building is supposedly being planned.
"Starting renovation seems like a waste of money since it doesn't strike me as necessary," said 5th-semester classics and ancient Mediterranean studies major Brian Manotok, who takes all of his classes at Arjona. "Even though the building is old, the stairs function fine. It seems kind of superfluous since they're tearing it down. They could have used the money for fans for every room instead."
Dave Lotreck, manager of buildings and grounds defended the work.
"All of the construction is safety related, it's not aesthetic," he said. "As much as I don't like wasting money, I also don't like doing something to compromise the safety of the students."
"We're not going to say that the building isn't going to be safe just because it's coming down," Lotreck said. "We have a responsibility."
The money for the repairs was taken out of the general operating budget. Lotreck was unable to remember the exact sum for what the repairs cost, but said "[the cost] wasn't dramatic, it was much less than if someone had fallen and gotten hurt and needed medical attention."
Lotreck also defended his budget by noting he used the more inexpensive and equally strong concrete to repair the broken sections of the stairs, rather than hiring a stonemason to cut and install more bluestone, which would have matched the surrounding stone and been more aesthetically pleasing.
"I think the old stairs were in need of repair, and since we're one of the highest rated state schools, we should stay up to code," said Sven Englund, a 3rd-semester psychology major. "Besides, the new building won't be done anytime soon, so necessary repairs should be made to the building."
Contact Chris Duray at
Christopher.Duray@UConn.edu.
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