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The Tivoli Student Union is currently undergoing a $27 million renovation
where layers of paint are being chemically stripped with a uratic
acid, which Tivoli officials say is not harmful to students’
health.
Jeff Stamper, Assistant Director of the Tivoli Student Union, said
that after extensive testing of the paint for lead content, it proved
to be completely safe for proper removal.
Projects involving actual or potential disruption or removal of painted
surfaces on a building constructed prior to 1980 are required to determine
the lead content of painted surfaces due to the lead content law passed
in 1979.
“We got really lucky,” he said “It turns out the
paint is lead free.”
According to Stamper, the exterior of the Tivoli has six layers of
paint on some parts dating back to 1937 and is being removed with
a chemical stripping agent, a low-acidity uratic acid wash and fresh
water.
“There are some historic windows on the east side of the building
that have lead in the caulking, so we will have to use special removal
techniques to get rid of that,” Stamper said.
This renovation is necessary in preserving the longevity of the historic
building.
Though still in the beginning stages, students are starting to notice
the changes taking place to the Tivoli.
“I think a small fee of roughly twenty dollars a semester is
worth bringing the building up to date,” UCD student Kelly Simmons
said. “The exposed brick looks really good and blends in with
the rest of downtown.”
Students voted in 2001 to approve the renovation.
“We went to referendum and asked the students for an increase
of $18.50 to pay for the renovations,” Stamper said. “It
was approved by all three student bodies in spring 2001.”
Although the project was approved by students, not every student
voted and would not have approved it if they had voted.
“Put students’ money where it’s needed; when professors
can’t afford to provide scan-trons and there are busted desks
and overheads, that’s directly affecting our education,”
Metro student Natalie Fehr said.
Tivoli officials are taking every precaution to ensure the safety
and historical value of the building.
“We hired a project manager from the architectural group of
JD Jacobs, (they’re) making sure we’re doing the right
things the right way and in the most cost-effective way,” Stamper
said.
The Tivoli, which is made up of a series of buildings that have been
built over the past 120 years, will all be included in these renovations
making for a challenging project.
There are some other changes Tivoli officials are hoping to incorporate,
“probably the most exciting of which is going to be the new
entry point to the southeast corner of the building,”
Stamper said, “The tavern building was the bar area for the
brewery and the community could come and drink beer right out of kettles;
that portion is going to be the grand entry point.”
“We will be cutting extra doors in (the tavern building) and
opening up an atrium to the second story so there will be a lot of
natural light and it will be a beautiful space,” said Stamper.
According to Stamper, this renovation is a huge improvement not only
to exterior preservation, but towards energy costs as well.
The workers will be removing over 120 heating and air-conditioning
units to make room for a central heating and air-conditioning system,
which will be much more cost efficient.
In Stampers opinion, the removal of the units will be very disruptive
to the users of the building while in progress
“The project in 1984 that transformed the building into a mall
was based on mall construction techniques which was to have individual
heating and air-conditioning units for each store,” Stamper
said.
The $27 million renovation, which is being paid for by the student
body, is scheduled to be completed by July, 2005.
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