Several administrative offices, including Admissions and Financial Aid, were relocated to the Palomino Center, where they will remain. The President’s Office, Distance and Extended Education, and the Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs were relocated to the Ozuna Learning Resources Center. The Vice President of Student Affairs was moved to the Palomino Center, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs was moved to the Applied Sciences Building.
The matter was
reported to the Alamo Community College District Board in March 2003.
Continued concerns over air quality in the building prompted the San Antonio
Fire Department, a special hazardous materials team, an ACCD safety officer
and a representative from Public Health Region One to conduct tests. Palo
Alto received one sample, which indicated stachybotrys, also known as
black mold, was present.
Before the end of March, a horizontal crack was found in the ceiling where
water had been seeping into the building, creating a moist environment
for the mold.
Beginning in April, President
Ana “Cha” Guzmán held weekly meetings to keep her staff
up to speed on the relocation and renovation process.
“As long as you communicate what you are doing, then you save yourself
a lot of grief,” said Guzmán.
With the input of staff members, a plan was devised to remove all equipment
from the building and either relocate it or put it in storage. All materials
were sanitized to reduce the risk of contamination.
Renovation of the building began in September after a bid was approved.
The cost of renovation is $650,000. Money for this project came from a
fund that is designed for an event such as this, so no other campus projects
will be affected. Satterfield and Pontikes Construction, Inc., are in
charge of the project.
“The rebuilding process is ahead of schedule,” said Elizabeth
“Eli” Eguia-Garcia, Director of Institutional Advancement and
Public Affairs. “Responsive action was taken immediately by key leadership.”
Guzmán said, “You really need to listen to people when you
are in charge of a big organization. You are the person responsible and
you have to take these responsibilities seriously.”
The grand re-opening of the Administration Building is slated for late
January 2004. The move back into the building is expected to take five
days. The administration is hoping to be back in the building by the start
of the Spring 2004 semester.
The Fine and Performing Arts Buildings will be studied next to determine
if black mold is a concern.
“If you can create opportunities out of something bad that happens
to you, then you’re always ahead,” said Guzmán.