UNI Legislative Update
The Office of Governmental Relations provides legislative updates to the campus community through online communication and bimonthly campus presentations. These updates will inform faculty, staff and students of hot topics facing the legislature and legislative actions affecting UNI and the Regents institutions.
July 11, 2008
Gilchrist Hall tenants finally get to come home
By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, Courier Staff Writer
CEDAR FALLS --- After more than 2 1/2 years in temporary office space, the tenants of Gilchrist Hall are finally preparing for the move back home.
"It's been a long road, with everything that has happened," said Dave Zarifis, the director of public safety. "We've been in our temporary quarters a long time, but we have adapted given the circumstances. We are excited to be getting back home."
The Department of Public Safety was one of about a dozen university departments, including the Follon Student Services Center and many administration offices, displaced when Aaron Scott Lessmeier and Tanner James Wilkens, both of West Des Moines, set fire to the building during the Homecoming celebration in October 2005. The blaze caused about $10.2 million in damage to Gilchrist, Lang and Baker halls.
Lessmeier and Wilkens both pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree arson and one count of reckless use of fire. They were sentenced to three consecutive 10-year prison terms each, a total of 30 years behind bars.
Steve Pavelec, the university owner construction representative, said nobody expected the building to stay closed for as long as it did, but all departments have been cooperative during the refurbishing process. Originally, the university had said the departments would be back in the building by the end of 2005.
"The facilities department probably felt the damage was far more extensive than the insurance company from the start," Pavelec said. "It got to the point where if we decided to do one thing, it required us to do another. That was the biggest part of the process, determining what actually needed to be done."
Pavelec is excited to see the offices reopen, but the students will benefit most.
"Especially the incoming class of freshmen, who will once again have all student services in one place instead of scattered across campus," he said.
First floor offices --- public safety, human resources, international programs and admissions --- begin moving in this week. Second floor offices --- including compliance and equity management, the registrar, financial aid and academic advising --- will move in later this month and throughout August. Finishing work is still being done on the building's second floor.
Though the university's insurance policy had guidelines for the building's restoration --- which would essentially return the building to its original use --- the university did move forward with a few additional renovations, including extra space for public safety. Zarifis said the department has nearly double its original space, some for a processing room and to generally improve the department's efficiency. There is now a bricked-in dispatch center that is storm and fire resistant, Zarifis said.
All office and individual phone numbers will remain the same throughout the move. Public safety will also maintain 24-hour service during the transition.
A rededication ceremony is planned for Sept. 19.