While the New England Patriots were soaked in champagne after the Super Bowl, some Bromley Hall rooms got soaked in the second quarter - with water.
About 8 p.m. Sunday, Bromley resident Jackie Aucoin said she began to notice water seeping into her room. A pipe in room 918, across the hall from Aucoin in 919, was leaking. Aucoin said her room did not have much damage - only her carpet got wet, and custodial services took it to be cleaned. However, room 918 had damage to the ceiling above the beds, which were completely soaked
and a puddle of standing water was on the ground.
Anything on the ground was ruined Aucoin said.
Ted Fares, facilities management director for engineering services and technical support, said a loose pipe in the newly- installed sprinkler system came apart. The leak affected rooms directly under room 918 on the seventh and eighth floors. A separate flooding incident occurred on the fifth floor Sunday when a heating coil froze because no insulation was behind it.
Fares said although Bromley has trouble with water leaks and building maintenance every year, Ohio University is trying to upgrade the 35-year-old building. Because students live in the building, the maintenance crews can only work during the summers.
Last summer OU spent $3.5 million to upgrade half of the building. Upgrades included a new sprinkler system and heating coils. The rest of the building will be completed next year, he said.
What happened is unfortunate and we still have problems in building
Fares said. We can't do it all at once.
Nick Rediger, assistant resident director for Bromley Hall, said students in damaged rooms will be given temporary housing elsewhere in Bromley, and OU will reimburse any student for property damaged by the water.
17
Archives
Matt Hutton
