Updated on Oct. 27 at 4:28 p.m.: to include new details from the campus wide email about the damage and what Cal State LA plans to do.

The Biological Sciences Building on the Cal State LA main campus was closed after flooding damage caused by “a water source that was accidentally left on” spread to multiple floors in the southern portion of the structure last week. The building is set to partially reopen on Wednesday, Oct. 29.  

Both the Physics and Anthropology Departments were those most significantly impacted by the incident, according to Cal State LA Spokesperson Erik Hollins.  

The area that was impacted will be cordoned off from the northern section of the structure as facilities and the outside company will be continuing the drying process with several large fans over the next several weeks. Following the drying phase, the current plan, as shared by the school, is to repair and replace anything before it can open back up for classes and other uses. 

Facilities also said that they will be routinely testing air quality in the northern portion of the structure, even though there is no recycled air and it does not “recirculate between sections of the building.”  

The Biological Sciences Building houses between 60 and 80 classes a day, in addition to some weekend class sessions, which are all currently online during the closure. However, there are efforts to get some students back on campus to other buildings where in-person instruction is critical, according to the Associate Dean of the College of the Natural and Social Sciences, Alison McCurdy. 

Further, McCurdy said that they “are also working with faculty whose research spaces are affected to identify next steps to support them.” 

Beyond the water damage from the source that was left on, “the flooding did not come into contact with any stored substances that could pose a safety risk,” Hollins said. 

While the university is overseeing the project, it has brought in a specialized service, Belfor Los Angeles, which specializes in property restoration. Belfor Los Angeles is often brought in to handle “these unusual circumstances,” according to Hollins. 

Hollins said Belfor has been tasked with sucking out the water and “drying” out the impacted areas to resolve the issue. 

Workers on Thursday morning appeared to be carrying water pumps and other clean-up materials into the building and had one door partially blocked off by a ladder. All the doors that were not open for worker access to the building were locked, but there were no posted signs on the doors to explain the reason for the closure. 

Later on Thursday, the building’s doors were caution-taped off, after no warnings were present earlier in the day. 

Students with classes in the building had to rely on professor communications, a Canvas notice and the campuswide email to take their next steps when it was first announced late on the night of Wednesday, Oct. 22. 

All classes, events and labs will be moved online until the building reopens, but McCurdy said that “I’m working with faculty and the facilities team on any urgent requests for access,” and that “need has been minimal so far.”  

Were you in the building when the incident occurred? If so, we’d like to hear from you at editorinchief.ut@gmail.com.