Red Gym, other UW buildings affected by mold

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Red Gym, other UW buildings affected by mold

The Capital Times - Madison,WI*

Anita Weier — 10/19/2007

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/252096

Mold at Ingraham Hall on the UW-Madison campus burst into public

view last week, but the persistent fungi also have attacked air

quality in other buildings at the university.

The Red Gym on Langdon Street -- which houses a Multicultural Center

and other services for students and visitors -- and the Middleton

Building on Linden Drive -- used for the McBurney Disability

Resource Center, other offices and storage -- also had recent

brushes with wetness and mold.

People who are sensitive to molds can suffer from nasal stuffiness,

eye irritation or wheezing. Those with serious allergies may have

more severe reactions, such as fever and shortness of breath. People

with chronic illnesses such as obstructive lung disease may develop

mold infections in the lungs.

Burdick, assistant director of the general safety group in the

UW's Environmental Health and Safety Department, said that windows

designed to be historically accurate when the century-old Norman

castle-style armory and gym was remodeled in the late 1990s did not

seal properly.

Hard-driven rain blew right around the wood-frame windows on the

third floor, eventually leading to mold problems, but the state

Department of Administration has put temporary storm windows in and

plans to replace the windows.

" Initially it was minor, but the windows deteriorated a bit, some

rot began to develop and spaces widened, " said Tom Reason, who works

in an admissions office in the third floor. " It became progressively

worse over eight years. Some relatively minor mold problems have

been cleaned up. "

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Environmental Health and

Safety Department tested for mold and monitored the air after mold

was found, he said. " Once there was some evidence of mold growth, a

plan was put in place to ensure that it was not a problem. "

" The safety department raised some red flags, so the state buildings

people came in and put some plans in place. The leaking problem was

certainly one that had gone on for a number of years, and until

fairly recently was more of a problem of inconvenience than health, "

Reason added.

Barth, a spokeswoman for the state Department of

Administration, said the temporary storm windows stopped the leaking

and mold in the window area has been cleaned up.

DOA, which oversees any improvement or repair of state buildings

costing more than $5,000, took steps to solve the problem after UW-

Madison officials raised the issue, she said.

The third floor of the Red Gym has had chronic leaking problems

since the windows were installed during the state renovation, said

Statz of the UW-Madison Physical Plant staff. An investigation

was started in August 2005, and occupants raised concerns about air

quality in May 2006, she said. Elevated mold levels were found in

two rooms and temporary repairs were completed by state contractors.

Mold treatment was completed in August and a contract for window

replacement was issued in September. Air sample results indicate

that the rooms are clear.

" DOA will be replacing all the windows on the third floor, but the

new windows have to be custom-built. They are scheduled to be built

soon, but that will be delayed if a state budget does not pass, "

Barth said, adding that the cost of replacement windows will be

almost $236,000.

Other moldy spots

Cleaning of air conditioning coils and carpeting has continued in

Ingraham Hall, the former Commerce Building on Bascom Hill, where

water produced mold on the third floor. Air quality reports on that

floor indicate success, according to Statz. UW officials also are

exploring ways to seal the basement ceiling so water does not leak

from the deli above.

Water infiltration in the exterior walls of the Middleton Building

has been a problem since it was built in 1965, according to Statz.

Occupants raised concern about air quality in August, and air

samples were taken that indicated elevated mold in one room.

" A carpet sample showed some potential mold growth, so Servpro came

in and cleaned the carpet, " Statz said. Heating and air conditioning

systems were checked, as were air samples, and exterior walls are

being investigated and repaired under state supervision.

The Medical Sciences Center on University Avenue, which was once

University Hospital, is also being treated for a small amount of

mold in a cold storage room.

Anita Weier — 10/19/2007 12:31 pm