February 2025
It did not rain in Tucson the weekend of Feb 8-9 but it did rain in the ASM library.
Over that weekend, one of the antiquated air handlers (installed 1948) caused water to overflow from the upper attic, through the interstitial attic, down through the plenum and on to the basement, traveling through the library.
On Monday, Feb 10, library collections normally stored on the north wall were relocated. The historic painted plaster ceiling has sustained water damage.
Measures taken on Feb 10 did not completely address the issue and the drain overflowed again overnight into Tuesday, Feb 11. That particular air handler is now turned off, leaving the library and other rooms on the second floor without the possibility of heating or cooling until further notice.
Damage is assessed at $1.5-2M.
Photos show tide lines on the library floor. What you can't see or hear is the water streaming down through the saturated ceiling and wall. Photos also show the air handler in the attic, and a shut-off valve which is so corroded, it cannot be turned.
Tide lines on the floor of the ASM library due to a flood caused by the overflow of a condensate pan from an antiquated air handler in the attic.
Tide lines on the floor of the ASM library due to a flood caused by the overflow of a condensate pan from an antiquated air handler in the attic.
Tide lines on the floor of the ASM library due to a flood caused by the overflow of a condensate pan from an antiquated air handler in the attic.
Conservators cover library collections with plastic sheeting when flood is discovered.
Conservators cover library collections with plastic sheeting when flood is discovered in the ASM library.
Concrete floor saturated by an antiquated air handler in the ASM attic
Air handler #10, installed 1948. The concrete floor is saturated by an overflow of its condensate pan.
A man from UA Facilities Management vacuums water to mitigate water flooding in to the ASM library.
This shut off valve is so corroded, it is no longer functional.
October 2024
Maintenance and Life-safety Upgrades Stalled by Arizona Board of Regents
This photo shows salt efflorescence due to water/rising damp around an electrical receptacle in Rm 218, a collections storage and office space.
As we have been reporting, our North Building was closed to the public on August 1, 2024 so that it could undergo extensive maintenance and life-safety upgrades. The closure came after more than a year of planning with UA facilities managers, risk management officials, and the UA fire marshal. In that time, museum personnel had engaged in moving collections out of harm’s way and relocating staff to safer work areas. Exhibits were deinstalled and galleries were converted into alternative collections storage spaces.
Maintenance work began in August and continued in September, but it came to a halt after the Fall 2024 meetings of the Arizona Board of Regents, at which they pulled funding and tabled the issue without any indication of when or if discussions would resume.
ABOR's next meetings are scheduled for February 13-14, 2025 in Tempe.
This photo shows lead paint flaking and falling from the ceiling of a collections storage and laboratory area.
September 2024
Contractors install newly engineered, energy-efficient, double-pane replacement windows in Room 221 (Dr. Michael Brescia's office) and 311A (Laboratory of Zooarchaeology). The modern replacements greatly reduce thermal gain and filter out harmful UV light. Once all the window glass is replaced, the overall preservation environment throughout the entire building will be significantly improved.
Click on either the right or left side if each image to advance the slide show.
August 2024
Contractors from Sundt Construction begin localized demolition and abatement work on two windows in the north building: Room 221 (Dr. Michael Brescia's office) and 311A (Laboratory of Zooarchaeology). The goal is to figure out the best way to manufacture and install double-glazed replacements for the entire building.
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Contractors discuss the condition of windows in the north building.
Scaffolding goes up to reach the windows in Rooms 221 and 311A.
Contractors begin deinstalling the window glass in Room 311A, from the outside.
Contractors inspect the condition of windows in Room 311A from the inside.
Work begins deinstalling window glass and frames in Rooms 221 and 311A.
Window framing elements deinstalled.
A window minus its old glass inside room 311A.
Plywood covers where the glass used to be.
August 2024
In order to get a handle on the existing ductwork, crews begin cutting investigative holes in the walls and ceilings of corridors, bathrooms, and office spaces.
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Crews cut holes in the walls of the third floor corridor and cover them with plastic tents.
Ductwork inside a wall of the third floor corridor is exposed by one of the holes cut by crews.
A view into a wall showing electrical systems and pipes.
A tent of white plastic and red tape covers a hole in the ceiling above the staircase landing in the lobby.
Holes covered with plastic in the ceiling of the lobby.