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GUIDE A JUMBO-SIZED ISSUE TO KICK OFF THE 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR

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What you missed in MHK this summer: a news recap

vol. 124, issue 1

@kstatecollegian kansas state collegian

monday, august 20, 2018

What happened to Hale: Updates on fire damage, fall library services DENE DRYDEN

THE COLLEGIAN

On May 22, a fire started on Hale Library’s roof, resulting in fire, smoke and water damage throughout the building. This fall, Hale will not be open as it undergoes cleaning and restoration. The 220 public computers, 1,600 seats and millions of print materials will not be available to Kansas State students and faculty until December 2019, when Hale is expected to be open to the public again. Until then, K-Staters will have to find alternatives for book rental, study spaces and public computer access.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Wabash Cannonball: One dance, many uses Manhattan’s local lingo defined for new Wildcats Nonalcoholic activities to enjoy in Aggieville OPINION: Great elective courses to take for K-State 8

Fire crews responded to a roof fire at Hale Library around 4 p.m. on May 22. K-State Alerts notified students later that afternoon, stating the building had been evacuated and people should stay clear of the area. The Manhattan Mercury and other news sources later reported the accidental fire was caused by roofing work. The area that sustained the most damage was the Historic Farrell Library in the northwest section of the building, which was originally built in 1927, said Lori Goetsch, dean of Hale Library, on June 4. That northwest corner of the building also includes the Great Room on the third floor, the Information Technology Center and Media Develop-

Alex Shaw | THE COLLEGIAN

The exterior of Hale Library on July 25. Fences and construction vehicles surrounded the building’s entrances after the fire on May 22. ment Center. The actual fire damage was contained to the roof, but the rest of Hale’s 500,000 square feet of space was impacted by smoke and water damage. Goetsch said about 400,000 gallons of water were pumped into Hale Library to quench the flames. Michael Haddock, associate dean for research, education and engagement at Hale Library, said on June 25 that Hale rests on a slight slope toward Mid-Campus Drive, so that is how the water traveled

from the northwest corner of the building to the eastern sections. Over the summer, Belfor Property Restoration had 200 staff on site to remove wet ceiling tiles and drywall, remove furniture from the building and transport books to facilities near Manhattan Regional Airport and Fort Worth, Texas, for cleaning and restoration. Haddock said on July 23 that, at that time, 60,000 boxes of wet and dry materials had been removed from Hale Library.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

First floor renovations were scheduled to be done over the summer, but now those improvements will be rolled into an overall plan for restoring Hale Library. Haddock said on July 23 that, in the week prior, library staff started meeting with PVAG Architects to assess the building’s condition and start plans for renovation.

see page 4, “HALE”


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