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University Daily Kansan / Thursday, December 5. 1991
Anschutz still problem-ridden
Pipe bursts, 90-degree indoor temperatures frustrate library staff
By Stephanie Patrick Special to the Kansan
Kathleen Neeley, director of Anschutz Science Library, flipped on a list full of problems.
In the two-inch thick notebook of more than 100 pages, the library has cataloged such things as how many times the pipes in the science library have burst or how many days the temperature inside has been 90 degrees.
During the first two years the library was open. Neeley said her staff called facilities operations daily.
The science library, a $13.8 million high-technology building, has been plagued with problems since its opening in November 1989.
Now the staff sends monthly memos that list problems ranging from burnt-out light bulbs to pipe breaks.
As the building celebrates its second anniversary, the problems continue.
In July, the sprinkler system in the entrance pavilion went off and filled the front hall with four inches of water.
One of the sprinklers was activated because of a melted sprinkler element. The University of Kansas spent almost $2,000 to fix the problem.
The pipes burst again in September. That time it cost the University more than $4,000, and the library lost $300.
Facilities operations officials admit that the pipes could break again if there is another 100-degree day
Mike Richardson, director of facilities operations,
said that the source of the problem had been found
and that the problem was being fixed.
Since September, the heating and cooling system has had no regulatory control; it only has manual adjustments.
"It's going to be a constant problem all winter." Neeley said.
The heating and cooling systems are often the items most contested by occupants because the systems are complex and hard to control, he said.
Although problems are common with any new building, facilities planning officials admit the sci-
*
The building's architects said that the design was sound.
Facilities planning officials said that the problems were largely due to a subcontractor's error.
The subcontractor has filed for protection under bankruptcy laws and cannot be found.
And the head of facilities operations blames the problems on pressure from the library staff to move in before the building was ready.
Library staff members just want the problems to be fixed.
Bob Swindler, an architect who was with Peckham, Guyton, Alberts and Viets of Kansas City, Mo., when the firm designed the building, said he was not the only person who helped leave the company before construction started.
"The design was a challenge," he said. "Wetried to provide the building with as much flexibility as possible."
Despite the science library's problems, no one will take responsibility for the faults of the $13.9 million building.
R. D. Andersen Construction Co. of Topeka, the contractor hired to build the library, has built several campus buildings, including Haworth Hall and Adams Alumni Center. Andersen began construction this month on K.K. and Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall.
Stan Clausen, project manager for the science library construction, said that he stood behind his company's work.
"I don't know of anything that wasn't in accordance with the contract," he said.
Clausen said the company fixed all problems with the building, including the heating and cooling system and the pipes, until the construction warranty expired October 1990.
During the final check of the building last year, Clausen said the boxes that control air flow and temperature in the building were not working.
But many of the ongoing problems in the science library involve the climate system.
The problem was fixed in February and he said he had not heard anymore complaints.
Doug Riat, assistant director of facilities planning, said there was some indication during the construction process that more problems would occur with the heating and cooling.
R. D. Andersen Co. hired Associated Metal Products Co. of Kansas City, Kan., as a subcontractor to finish the heating and cooling system on the first floor.
During the construction phase, the company went bankrupt and failed to finish the job.
"I think there was a small hint that something was wrong," he said. "It just didn't look like it was coming together right."
Nothing was complete or installed right, Riat said. The original subcontractor, John Gruss, could not be found for comment.
Clausen said the work Associated Metal Products Co. did delayed the project for six weeks but did not affect the outcome.
The subcontractor filed for bankruptcy during the first few months of construction, he said.
Some of the problems may have been caused by architectural or contractor errors, said Bob Porter, associate director of facilities operations, but the ibarians' impatience with the process made the
"All his work was rebuilt," he said. "It was all taken out, and all materials were replaced."
problems worse.
"Occupants pressure facilities planning to get their foot in the place," he said. "When they do, there are always problems."
Once occupants are in the building, Porter said, it is hard to get either the architect or contractor to take responsibility for the problems. That is because it is difficult to distinguish between an architectural or contractor error, and the normal wear on a building.
For example, the pipe that burst in September was caused by faulty installation, he said.
The contractor's insurance company paid for the repairs, Porter said, but receiving the University's reimbursement for the price of KU's construction stock and labor complicated the situation.
Neeley said that most of the heating and cooling problems in the building stemmed from facilities operations not receiving the instruction manual for the climate control computer.
Rather than get a new manual, facilities operations chose to work directly with the computer vendor, Johnson Control, to iron out any problems with the system.
Porter said his office did not receive the instruction manual. He was not sure whether the manual was ever given to the University or whether it had been lost by another department.
All of his workers have learned how to use the computer. he said.
"It's going to be a learning and training experience for our men," Porter said. "All our training is on the job training. We are not experts."
He said that the new system had taken time to learn but that he was confident that all problems were being addressed.
Officials at Johnson Control declined to comment, saying only that the University was one of its customers.
Richardson said that he thought facilities operations had recently reordered an instruction manual but he was not sure.
Neeley still is not convinced the problems are being solved.
She said that the fall weather only made the problem worse.
"It cools down at night, which kicks on the computer," Neeley said. "It confuses the computer, and it turns on the heat."
The problem has to be corrected manually. She said it was pure luck that the pipe breaks had not caused more damage.
Neeley said she was worried that another pipe break could ruin the collections.
"That's what worries me the most," she said. "Until now they haven't affected our collections."
Not everyone thinks the problems with the science library are serious.
Marc Belcher, associate professor of architectural engineering, said it was natural for a computer scientist to work in this field.
"My gut feeling is that it is a normal amount of maintenance for a building this high tech," he said. Neeley said, "Maybe we would have been better off with a lower tech building."
By Blaine Kimrey Kansan staff writer
Fulcher owes landlords for late rent, judge rules
A Douglas County District Court judge ruled Nov. 27 that former student body president Darren Fulcher and his ex-roommate owe their landlord's more than $1,600 for rent plus interest and late fees.
Because Pulcher and his roommate, Rucardo Harris, failed to respond to court summons by Nov. 12, the judge ruled in favor of their landlords by decision.
"We'd much rather deal face-to-face with Darren," said Tom Galyardt, a representative for Kaw Valley Management, Fulcher's former landlord. "But he has not returned our calls."
Kaw Valley Management manages the house at 1821 Tennessee St. where Pulcher used to live. Tennessee Investors own the property.
A summons was mailed Oct. 29 to Fulcher's former residence informing him that he was being sued by his landlords for about four months late rent, late fees and interest.
But the Douglas County Sheriff received the summons Nov. 18 and Fulcher had not responded to it.
Fulcher was no longer living at the residence where the summons was mailed. Because the post office did not have a listing of his new address, it
Fulcher knew about the lawsuit and had plenty of time to respond, Galvardt said.
He said that he had attempted to meet with Fulcher on Nov. 11 to discuss the lawsuit but that Fulcher came by his office 15 minutes before the meeting. He said he was "very concerned" about the
Diana Simpson, attorney for Tennessee Investors, said she did not know how Tennessee Investors intended to collect the money.
Galandtdt said that he left a message for Fulcher at the Student Senate office to reschedule the meeting, but that Fulcher never responded.
"There are a number of post-collection proceedings that are covered by Kansas statute," she said.
Simpson said collection methods included collecting money from Fulcher's income or having a hearing in which Fulcher would disclose all his assets to the court. The court then would be able to determine the most appropriate means for collection.
"Right now our efforts are in trying to get ahold of Darren and trying to work this out," Galyard said.
Anti-abortion organization presents petitions to Finney
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Gov. Joan Finney retreated yesterday her pledge to sign into law any legislation limiting abortions in Kansas as the Legislature passes it, while reaffirming she will not initiate any changes in the law.
But in brief comments to reporters in a Statehouse hallway, the governor avoided answering whether she would make it administration policy to more strictly enforce state laws relating to licensing of abortion clinics and family planning counseling.
Finney said, "I will enforce the law.
Kansas and officials of the Finney administration.
"I've made my position very clear that I will not initiate any legislation, but I will sign any legislation passed on to me by the Legislature."
The meeting was called to discuss concerns the Right to Life representatives had expressed to the governor in a meeting Nov. 25.
Finney spoke following a meeting of representatives for Right to Life of
Pat Goodson and Pat Turner of Right to life presented petitions to Finney. They said they were signed by 2,000 to 3,000 people.
According to the petitions, family planning clinics were counseling minors without parents' knowledge or consent; the state was not enforcing a law requiring the filing of stillbirth certificates when fetuses were aborted without proper licensing without proper licensing. They also presented alleged evidence of negligent behavior by doctors who performed abortions.
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