Old University of Iowa Auditorium Contains Asbestos

The planned demolition of old auditorium on the campus of the University of Iowa may have to wait, as the process will have to properly accommodate asbestos that was recently found in the building.

The Hancher Auditorium, which first opened for the university 30 years ago but has been closed since 2008 due to flooding, has been slated for demolition so the university can move ahead with the construction of a new complex. However, the original plans recently came to a screeching halt after university officials determined that the building contained dangerous levels of asbestos products.

“My understanding is there’s quite a bit of asbestos in that building, and I assume it’s going to take some time to do that,” said Tom Wuehr, an environmental specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources, according to the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

With the presence of the mesothelioma-causing substance now known, a reformulated timetable for the building’s demolition has been developed. Under the new plan, the project’s contract will be awarded by September, and the demolition of the 135,000-square-foot building will be completed by August 2013 after the asbestos materials have been safely removed.

Have you been exposed to asbestos in an old building that may have led to your development of mesothelioma? Call Sokolove Law today to learn more about pursuing a mesothelioma claim. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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