mold-symptom.com

EDWARDSVILLE -- More than enrollment is growing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Mold driven by humidity and condensation problems has plagued both Woodland and Prairie halls for years, causing soggy drywall and mold growth in some of the residence hall rooms. Michael Schultz, director of university housing, said the worst places are on the first floors of both Woodland and Prairie halls, although the newest residence hall, Bluff Hall, also has some moisture problems.

Woodland Hall was built in 1994, Prairie Hall in 1998 and Bluff Hall in 2001.

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees, which oversees both the Edwardsville and Carbondale universities, is expected to vote on the $5 million solution to the problem today in Carbondale. The project and budget are awaiting approval for the HVAC modification and humidity control work, and will be paid out of internal SIUE funds, including $2 million from housing’s repair budget, $1 million from construction bond proceeds and $2 million from a university internal loan.

"Then, hopefully, we’ll get the money back litigation-wise, so this won’t lead to increases in student housing fees," Schultz said.

More than two years ago, the university filed a lawsuit against the architects, contractors and the bonding company that were involved on the buildings. Companies listed in the suit include Kane Mechanical Inc. of Wood River, Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Associates architectural firm of Chicago, and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, the bonding agency.

Schultz said university officials decided to fix the problems in the residence halls before the lawsuit comes to fruition, because the moisture problems are growing.

"We’ve got to take the drywall off, reseal the pipes and then properly insulate them," Schultz said.

In the project description, all three residence halls would have HVAC balancing and temperature control recalibration and certification, replacement of exhaust fans, reworking of corridor supply air distribution systems and installation of dedicated dryer make-up air systems.

Both Woodland and Prairie halls would have additional work, including replacement of pipe and value insulation and sealing of joints and seams, sealing of fan coil unit cabinet penetrations, and remediation of damage caused by high humidity and moisture. Only Woodland Hall requires parapet cap flashings with new masonry expansion joints, Schultz said. The repair work is being designed and completed with companies not named in the pending lawsuit, he said.

The SIU Board of Trustees is expected to later revisit the funding issue for the repair work to decide whether housing fees should be raised in 2006 to recover the costs, depending on what happens with the lawsuit. The suit has been adjusted since the original filing in June 2001 to include additional costs beyond the first estimates of about $100,000 for each building.

Only a few residents of the halls have lodged complaints about the moisture and mold, and university workers are now removing the fungus growth from individual rooms. Over the summer, an industrial hygienist trained housing staff on finding and removing mold, Schultz said.

The $5 million proposal will be addressed in the SIU Board of Trustees committee meetings and the full board meeting at 9 a.m. today in Ballroom "B" of the student center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.