King Hall is now clear of asbestos after rigorous testing, meeting standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to an Aug. 21 statement from Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes. The removal of asbestos highlighted the many renovations done to King Hall over the Summer, which included repairs to bathrooms, hallways, and classrooms.
Terra Environmental, an independent environmental consulting firm, oversaw the tests conducted on Aug. 14. In the public report, the tests collected 38 air samples at random areas of each level at each wing. These areas included hallways, classrooms, and elevators.
All tested spaces had less than 0.01 fibers per cubic centimeter of asbestos, less than EPA clearance levels. The findings determined that there was “no imminent risk to asbestos fibers exposure” in King Hall.
Twenty people worked on the project, and there were no setbacks, according to Executive Director of Strategic Communications Erik Hollins. Although the main renovation is complete, Eanes said in her statement that “work on King Hall will continue for general and deferred maintenance.”
On Feb. 19, Eanes announced that an office in the A wing of King Hall tested positive for asbestos exposure. The findings caused an uproar across the university, sparking protests from students and faculty, who called on leadership to step in.
According to Hollins, in April, school officials created a “King Hall Action Team” consisting of representatives from six departments, including Administration and Finance and Environmental Health and Safety. Their job was to assess the building and determine necessary actions. Those plans were released on May 13 in a slideshow outlining a two-phased strategy for the building’s renovation.
The first phase saw the roofs replaced for Wings A and C, along with general fixes to damaged walls, floors, and ceiling tiles in all four wings. Floor tiles containing asbestos materials were also sealed and covered.
The second phase had the third floor of Wing A and all of Wing C receive newly painted hallways and signage for classrooms. Classrooms also sport new lighting fixtures, improved heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, and whiteboards. These renovations also extend to the A Wing’s fourth floor.
Students have welcomed these changes. “I like the renovations they’ve done,” said senior and Rehabilitations Services major Veronica Aguilar. “It looks very nice, it looks very upgraded. I think the project was a good call, and I’m happy with what they’ve done.”
However, some aren’t as impressed. Second-year student Bryan Vasquez felt the updates were “pretty hard to notice” since “all of the classrooms look virtually the same as last year.” Vasquez added that he hoped the university could address items like outdated classroom desks.
Eanes closed her email stating that she will update current Interim Vice President Claudio Lindow on the building’s refurbishment to ensure the project is complete.
This article was first published in the August 28 print edition of the University Times.
