[FONT=Verdana]The last of the temporary 59-year-old creative arts building is scheduled for demolition this week.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]The building that was constructed in 1947 with the purpose of temporary use for the post-war boom on campuses to accommodate students after WWII's end. The buildings previously held classrooms, laboratories and offices. Due to a fire in Matthews Hall in 1972, visual arts offices and studios occupied the temporary barracks.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]Creative Arts 3 is the last of the temporary building scheduled for demolition. But because of the building age and structure, caution must be taken with the demolition process.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]Kevin Thedans, Construction Safety and Health Coordinator and Fire Equipment Services Manager who specializes in asbestos projects will be monitoring the building's demolition and overseeing the work site. "We hope to start the project around the 10th of July. The project is supposed to start the 6th, but we hope to be in here doing things on the 10th."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]At the start of the demolition process, outsiders will not be able to see much deconstruction said Thedans.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]"There will be a lot of activities going on outside. We're going to be putting a fence around the building and mulch down on the ground to protect the trees," he said. "Nothing will be going on the outside of the building that anyone will see for the next two to three weeks."[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]Jim Naville, a project manager from the Purdue physical facilities department, will be overseeing the entire process. "Basically the building will be dismantled from inside out. It won't look like any construction is going on until asbestos is cleared out so there are no airborne substance," he said. "It's a very slow process."[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]To ensure that the public is safe, Thedans said that the construction crew will keep a close monitor on the air levels all around the building.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]"We do periodic air monitoring around the facility to make sure our airborne levels are low," he said.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]The building will be deconstructed in a similar way to how it was built to make sure there won't be any harm to the public.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]Although passerbies may see the construction workers with respirators and suites, Thedans confirmed that no one will be in harms way or exposed to asbestos.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]"This is what these workers do for a living. They are around asbestos 40 hours a week and that's their job and being in compliance with OSCA, they are required to wear respirators," he said. "To us, this is a very routine job."[/FONT]