USUoffidalsNY tho reconstruction of Old Main should be completed by January 1985 at a cost of $4.5 million .
Legislature considers $2 million for Old Main The roof is on, but other repairs are awaiting the outcome of the Legislature lly REAGANDAVIS llallwrtter
Thospocia) session of the
Ulah_ ~lure
is presently
CXlllsidering a S2 million
~:';'.'tal funding bill -~uuning the extent of ~ doneon Old
Totalproject cost could go ~54.smillion, said _,_._~n,vico
ol businessand ol theOld Main
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tian."Sofar only
~ by insurance twsaid.
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Restoration funds must cover structural damage, equipment and furnishings lost in the blaze and relocation of various departments around campus. Stevenson said the insurance money will basically only cover costs of restoring the building to its original condition. "However ," he said, "there are other things that must be done. For instance right now the walls are all open with the pipes and wiring exposed. The water and fire did not damage them but we can see
due to age and other factors they need to be replaced. The insurance will cover that type of cost. " He continued, 'We really haven't done a lot yet. We've got the roof on and have finished gutting the area and cleaning it up. We're waiting to see how things tum out with the Legislature before we do much more." The requested stale funds would be dedicated to the improvement of the building's north and west wings, according to Stevenson. "(They'll go for) installing a
sprinkling system, putting sheet rock against the beams of the roof - mainly things to aid fire prevention ," he said. A portion of the funds would also be allotted for structural improvements on the building in an attempt to make it more resistant to seismic damage. These improvements must be made for the building to meet earthquake standards. "At the present rate , renovations should be completed by the first of January," said Stevenson. "At first the weather was a
hinderance but now that we have the building mostly enclosed we will be able to move along more rapidly ." When completed, the building will more fully facilitate the departments housed there , Stevenson said. "Before the geography and language departments were housed in what used to be the art department ," he said. "But since the fire, the architects have been working closely with the department heads to make more effective use of the space that we do have ,"