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Creating
a SAFER place to work, live and study
University
makes earthquake preparedness a top priority
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With seismic
improvement needs in excess of $1 billion and the looming threat
of a major quake along the Hayward Fault in mind, the Berkeley
campus takes seismic rehabilitation seriously.
In fact,
seismic work is a driving force in much of the campus construction
projects taking place now and in the near future.
The campus's
seismic safety program, unparalleled among the nation's universities,
is guided by the Seismic Action Plan for Facilities Enhancement
and Renewal, or SAFER. The 10-point, comprehensive response
plan was launched by Chancellor Robert Berdahl after a thorough
seismic evaluation showed 27 percent of campus space was rated
poor or very poor and in need of significant seismic repair.
"Clearly
our first concern is that everyone who works, lives or studies
at Berkeley is as safe as possible in the event of a major earthquake,"
Berdahl said. "But there is another concern this plan addresses.
The fact of the matter is, if Berkeley were put out of business
by an earthquake, recovery for the state and the region would
be jeopardized, and the impact locally and nationally would
be felt for years afterward."
One of the
top priorities of SAFER's 10-point action plan was the hiring
of a new vice chancellor for capital projects. Edward Denton
came on board in 1998 and, since then, has overseen all aspects
of the SAFER program, as well as deferred maintenance and infrastructure
upgrades.
Funding for
initial projects that are part of the nearly $1.2 billion of
seismic work needed over the next 20 years has come from several
sources, including a $42 million grant from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and $70 million from the passage of Proposition
1A, as well as university and state funds.
Work is well
under way at the Hearst Memorial Mining Building, and has recently
started on Wurster and Barrows Halls, and Silver Lab, and is
scheduled to begin on Barker, Hildebrand and Latimer Halls this
fall. Examples of seismic retrofit work completed (some prior
to SAFER) are: Dance Facility, Doe Library, Dwinelle Hall, Haas
Pavilion, McCone Hall, Marchant Building (6701 San Pablo), Residence
Halls, South Hall, University Hall and Wheeler Hall.
While most
staff, faculty and students will remain in these buildings during
construction, others have been or will be moved to other classrooms
and offices or to "surge" locations.
For example,
residents of Wurster Hall are currently occupying a complex
of temporary metal buildings built on Hearst Field, just west
of the Hearst Gym. One of the buildings also houses the Pacific
Film Archive theater.
Denton expects
these structures to remain for at least five years, housing
various departments during seismic work.
Plans are
under way for the Seismic Replacement Building to be built on
the Oxford Tract. While intended as a permanent structure, the
building will house "surged" faculty and staff for the next
several years.
"We have
made great progress in the last few years," said Denton of the
SAFER Plan, "but still have a lot of work ahead of us as we
implement our plan to make the campus a safer place for students,
faculty and staff."
The 10-point
SAFER plan
1. Create
a new position titled Vice Chancellor for Capital Projects
whose duties will include overseeing all aspects of the SAFER
Program.
2. Form
an Executive Campus Planning Committee chaired by the Chancellor
to be responsible for all physical planning decisions on the
campus, including the coordination of seismic projects with
academic program improvements.
3. Establish
campus precinct planning committees to assess seismic needs
in specific areas of campus along with campuswide functional
assessment committees.
4. Determine
the need for full or partial closure of facilities posing
an unacceptable risk for continued use.
5. Create
a master plan for facilities renewal.
6. Overhaul
and streamline capital project management to increase efficiency
and cost effectiveness.
7. Develop
plans for obtaining temporary space, sites, and buildings to
house functions that must be relocated as structures are renovated,
or, in some cases, demolished and replaced.
8. Initiate
a multiple-source financing plan to implement the plan for
seismic corrections.
9. Ensure
comprehensive emergency preparedness and provide training.
10. Develop
a comprehensive campus and community communications plan.
Renewing
the Foundations of Excellence home
Source:
Berkeleyan
Special Issue, Fall 2000
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