School of Music repairs timeline set
The low temperatures that caught everyone by surprise in mid-February has left a lasting impact on The School of Music.
The new building experienced a severe water leak running from the second to first floor on Feb. 15. The leak was reported to Music Director Dr. Paul Hageman early that morning and University Facilities Management were contacted to get the issue under control.
“We had a pipe explode due to the freeze which caused a piece to fly through a wall which sent thousands of gallons of water into our main performance hall and into the percussion wing. Luckily we were able to save nearly all of our percussion equipment but both parts of the building have had to be renovated…” graduate student Brandon O’Donohue said.
The freeze affected the performance hall, percussion suites, and two methods classrooms were rendered temporarily unusable. A computer lab and a piano lab also sustained some damage but remained open to students.
Remediation began immediately during the weather event and construction began in May.
The unexpected damage caused some classes and events to be relocated.
“It’s been harsh for us who were eager to create experiences in the building as it was being constructed, since we were not able to at the beginning of the pandemic when the building was first constructed due to uncertainties of the spreading illness and now again with the renovations. Although this obstacle has made it hard for us to find spaces to keep practicing and performing, we were able to keep doing what we love in not-so-ideal situations using the spaces that we had remaining,” James Segovia, music education major, said.
The School of Music has adapted to sudden changes and looks forward to completed renovations by Fall 2022.
“We are eager for the repairs to be complete, but we know doing so will take time. We are hopeful that repairs to the Percussion Suite and adjacent classrooms will be completed by Spring 2022. The Performance Hall—because of the specialty wood items needed to complete the construction—may be completed by Fall 2022. We look forward to the day when we can once again open the entire building to our amazing and talented students and faculty,” Hageman said.