Roof construction leads to major water damage
By Jake Carter
wcarter6@student.highlands.edu
Staff Writer
Work done on the roof of the F-Wing building on the Floyd campus has had unexpected consequences for both teachers and students.
The problem arose when water damage occurred after a rain storm the Thursday before spring break.
�Originally, there were two flat-roofs on the F-Wing building,� stated Phil Kimsey, director of plant operations, �and over time, water seeped through the first roof and pooled between the first and second roofs.
When we began building the new roof, the water leaked through the holes we created and damaged offices and classrooms.�
The result is that several offices and classrooms such as F-149 and F-150 are unusable.
Dr. Laura Musselwhite, professor of history, Steve Blankenship, instructor of history, Dr. Alberta Johnson, professor of psychology and others are without offices until the repairs are finished.
�I feel homeless,� said Johnson about the destruction of her office. Brown water stains cover the walls of her office and several of the tiles that remain in the ceiling.
The F-Wing continues to leak when it rains.
Teachers are being asked to cover computers and books with plastic before leaving their classrooms and offices to prevent further damage while the roof work continues.
�It's funny that as a college we've been unable to cover the holes in the roof with plastic, rather than covering entire rooms with it,� said Shawn Riggins, a graphic design major from Douglasville.
Kimsey said that construction on the new roof should be complete in July.
Across town, the Heritage Hall building is also undergoing renovations. �The building is being renovated one floor at a time,� said Kimsey.
First floor classes are being moved to the second floor or to the Floyd campus while the work continues.
According to Kimsey, demolitions on the first floor began April 2. �We should be finished rebuilding the first floor Aug. 14.�
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