LONG BEACH : Cal State Humanities Building Shored Up
Cal State Long Beach officials have begun shoring up the university’s tallest building in response to employees’ fears that the structure could collapse during a major earthquake.
Six employees who had asked to be transferred from the nine-story McIntosh Humanities Building to other offices have dropped their requests, officials said.
“I’m very pleased that they recognized that there was a problem with the building,” said Pat Warren, a philosophy department secretary who withdrew her request.
The employees sought the transfers after learning of an engineering firm’s report that said the building might collapse during a major earthquake. A state board recommended in July that the university either strengthen the building or evacuate it.
Contractors are reinforcing four main columns in the building by inserting support rods and wrapping the columns, said Scott Charmack, vice president of physical planning and facilities management. The effort will cost about $30,000, he said.
“This is a temporary thing. This isn’t meant to replace the (larger-scale) retrofit itself,” Charmack said.
University officials still plan more extensive strengthening as soon as they can raise $1 million.
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