Moore building construction has been underway since June 7. Actually, we don’t see much construction yet. Constructing and renovating buildings are activities governed by a variety of federal, state, local, and university regulations, and a good deal of the preparatory work going on on-site now is in response to that.
Asbestos was widely used in floor and ceiling tiles in the late 1960s when Moore was built. Later deemed a hazardous substance, asbestos removal is covered by federal regulations. Asbestos in place (contained in intact floor tiles, for example) is not considered a threat to human health, but it is considered a threat if the tiles are broken or corroding. That can release asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers are quite dangerous because they embed themselves in the lungs, thus increasing the probabilities of lung cancer and other serious lung diseases. So when buildings containing asbestos are demolished, material containing asbestos must be carefully removed by workers wearing masks and protective clothing before walls, ceilings, and floors can be broken up and destroyed.
That is what has been going on in Moore for the past month or so. All asbestos-containing materials are being removed, floor by floor. At the same time, workers are also removing the boilers, pipes, and other infrastructure in the building. In fact, if you walk past the Moore site, you can see through the building on the first floor where the wall was opened to remove large items.
In terms of university regulations, one of interest is the protection of trees. Though trees have to be removed in most construction jobs, the university does attempt to save as many mature trees as possible. Saving trees was a topic that occurred periodically in meetings planning the building. We particularly prize “heritage trees,” those larger and older. Thus, you will see a fence around a large oak tree to the west of the North wing to keep construction equipment away from the tree and its roots.
Work on the west side of the building under the alley that runs between Moore and Nittany parking garage continues. Workers have been laying utility pipes that will carry water and chilled water into the building and sewage from the building. This work has been complicated by several sinkholes that have emerged. Central Pennsylvania is conducive to sinkholes because of the limestone foundations under the soil. Fixing the sinkholes has meant redoing some of the work and is slowing that part of the project. The plan is to be able to reopen the alley before the commencement of the fall semester.