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Show m .5 nw tire coaes wim dsshb umaiais aouse By David Shipman Signpost staff writer The Val A. Browning Center for the performing arts at Weber State University may have met the fire codes when it was built in 1964, but a recent change in the codes is ruling the building unsafe.The code changes are the result of discoveries made during fire investigations and other disasters. They have provided further knowledge about building design and subsequent structure codes relating to possible future disasters. This type of change in the fire codes resulted in the Browning Center failing a recent fire safety inspection. Three years ago the Ogden Fire Marshall notified WSU that the building, which met codes previously, no longer meets the fire safety codes, Bob Folsom, facilities maintenance manager said. Folsom said the reason authorization has been given to continue using the facilities is because it was governed by the previous code. However, any revisions to a facility must meet the new codes and any major structural changes made to any portion of the building would subject the entire building to meeting updated codes. The Val A. Browning Center failed to meet the new require- Retirement hobbies not all fun, games for former dean By Carl Heaps Signpost staff writer Retirement means different things to different people. Some people like to take time off to travel, relax and take up new hobbies. Others retire so they can . . . work? Cyrus M. McKell, former Dean of the College of Science at Weber State University, retired December 31 and became a free-lance science consultant. "I'm currently working for Applied Ecological Services," McKell said. "My field deals with soils and botany. We consult on landscaping of plants and soils, and new product development for nurseries and health foods companies." McKell is also working for the Governor Science Advisory Council for the state of Utah. "I'm on the committee that deals with questions that are given to the governor," McKell said. "The governor has a science advisor and she has a council that works like a committee with her." McKell is currently working with another company developing new products for greenhouses and finding new ways for reusing fuels. "It started with Dr. Guyman in the chemistry department. We were working on the patent . . . - uv -. Faculty and staff members at WSU's Val A. Browning Center plan to relocate while the university tries to meet new fire code standards. Although the building met the codes when it was constructed in 1964, vast renovation would require conforming to the current codes. ments because corridors currently allow returning air to reenter, which would fill the corridors with smoke if a fire were to occur. The facility meets the requ ire-ments regarding the number of corridors it should have, but fails the returning air policies. The fire marshall has also stated that he would like to see more exits incorporated into the building, which would allow people to easily escape from the building's east side. for washing the oil filters while they were being crushed," McKell said. "Then we try to use the filter medium as potting mix for the greenhouses." McKell well be returning to WSU this fall to teach a Botany soils and environment class. "I plan on continuing doing things with the university," McKall said. McKall also is hoping to be on the committee that is developing the Da vis County campus. McKell has taught at the University of California and Utah Slate University. He was the vice-president of a international biotechnology plant materials company and was the Dean of College of Science at WSU for six years. ' He retired when his wife became ill. "I really enjoyed working at WSU and I guess I would still be there if it wasn't for my spouse." McKell said. "She has been having health problems." McKell said retirement has its up and downs. "The down side is that I miss the association with the university. The up side is that I'm free to do tilings," he said. .... - " " ' .ft. JMWWH.....'-.. Folsom said establishing corridors to exit from the east side of the building will eliminate some of the functional space in the facility, such as the band room and music practice rooms. , The budget has enough money to change mechanisms to prevent return air from entering the corridors, but not for replacing space lost to renovations, he said. WSU hopes to hire architects by June to design facilities to replace space that will be lost to new corridors which exit to the east side Bookstore writes new chapter, returns to Shepherd Union By Jennilyn Williams Signpost staff writer A number of changes have taken place for the Weber State University Bookstore this year. The bookstore moved to the old Ernst building in September 1994 and won't be back until 1996. According to Dee Schenck, manager of the bookstore, it will return to the union building in the same place it was located last June. the newly remodeled bookstore will have many benefits that the old one didn't have; two major benefits be- . ing convenience and accessible parking."We're expanding it. We'll have a little more space, a ground level entrance, plus there will be a parking lot to the south of it which will be available to bookstore customers," Schenck said. "It will be an attended lot. People will be able to get a validation at the bookstore that will be good for a half hour." Schenck said the building will also have a more convenient entry way. "This will make the bookstore more accessible to students because the ground level ' V ' of the building. But the university is hoping the legislature will step in and provide some extra money. "Administrators are hoping the legislature will allocate funding to make major changes," Folsom said. He said the critical changes will be made now; major changes will be made only when funds can be obtained from the legislature."We will pick and choose for the money we have," he said. entrance eliminates the stairs," he said. "Also, there will be more room, so there will be a larger selection of trade books." Schenck is glad the bookstore was able to move over to the Ernst building while being remodeled.Without the move, he said tilings could have been somewhat chaotic. "If we hadn't moved here, we could have been working out of two or three different buildings," he said. "Coming here (the location on Harrison Blvd.) was good because we are still able to maintain a high level of service to students. We had really no other alternative."However, Schenck said he is looking forward to moving back to the original bookstore because of the space availability. "We like the space over here, i.. I.r' f Y- ,y y .... . y':--'' Another building expert said the university "did some crazy things in the 60s, "meaning the architects and builders shouldn't have been allowed to experiment with new ideas for fire codes. Separate operable fire curtains were required since the 1800s, but the builders during the 60s thought spraying fire retardanton the main curtains would suffice for fire prevention overlooking that the curtains use electric power, which normally would fail or be shut off in the event of a fire. That could close the building for quite some time. Val A. Browning Center Facility Director Scott Jensen said WSU should expect the planning process for the new facility to take from six to eight months, then the bidding will begin. Jensen said construction could start about one year from now if the legislature comes through with the funding. Jensen said WSU may try to use the Dee Events Center or possibly the Egyptian Theater when it's finished in October of 1996. But no agreement currently allows use of the theater, even if it is available, and most facilities won't work for large events such as Ballet West and the Symphony, he said. These events are important to the Browning Center because of the high frequency of use. There were "460 event days last year," he said. we like the parking, but we do miss being on campus because we don't feel part of lhe campus community as we uid before," he said. Schenck said that it's more difficult in the old Err building because they don't u . ve as many students dropping in, so it makes it harder to let students know about new clothing items that are available there. "When we were in the union building, we had a display they could see, bchenck said. ' The bookstore ' tried staying open - ' later to accommo date evening students and people in the commu-nity,butSchencksaid the store wasn't very successful during the extended hours. "We experimented with staying open until 6 p.m., but we ended up having to close earlier three days of the week because there was no business," Schenc'; said. The new bookstore hour are Monday and Tuesday -u a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Wednesday though Friday 7:30 a.m. - '! .0 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. For information, call 626-6352. |
