Many of UCI's older instruction and research buildings need fire safety improvements, says a new report. This image shows on of UCI's original social science towers. Image courtesy of UCI.
Updated at 2:24 p.m.
At least 19 buildings at UC Irvine have fire alarm and suppression systems that are obsolete or deficient, says a capital improvement report submitted to the University of California’s Board of Regents in November.
The report doesn’t identify the buildings by name, but says that 17 are used for instruction and research. The other structures are two of UCI’s oldest residence halls — Mesa Courts Unit 1 and Middle Earth, which jointly house hundreds of people. More than $7 million is needed for wide-ranging repairs, upgrades and replacements, and tens of millions more are required to upgrade various buildings that are aging badly, the report says.
The shortcomings are pointed out in “2009-2015: State and Non-State Capital Improvement Program,” a report that also says that two health science buildings (Med Surge 1 and 2) “have deteriorated over the years, and building systems are no longer adequate to support modern medical research technologies and practices.” Replacing the buildings will cost $43 million.
The report analyzes what capital improvements the UC’s 10 campuses would like to make over the next five years. UCI’s “wish list” totals more than $534 million in projects, ranging from a $64 million science building to a $5.1 million cancer laboratory to an $8 million “Center for Awareness, Reflection and Meditation.”
The report says UCI is straining to handle rapid growth, and that some of the impact involves public safety.
“The fire-alarm systems in a number of instruction and research buildings are obsolete, increasingly difficult to service, and lacking many of the features and safeguards of modern systems,” the report says on page 49. “The capital program includes a project to replace deficient systems in 17 campus buildings.
On page 57, the report calls for $15 million in renovations to Mesa Court Units 1 and 2. The report notes that “the fire alarm system will be replaced in Unit 1, as recommended by the Fire Marshal.”
UCI also needs $7 million to renovate the Middle Earth residence hall. The renovation includes “design and installation of a new code-compliant fire suppression system.”
The report proposes $7 million for fire safety improvements, saying, “This project will improve fire safety and address ADA safety code requirements through replacement of obsolete and problematic fire alarm systems in 17 campus buildings. The project will install modern pull stations, smoke and heat detectors, and audio-visual signal devices to meet all current codes.”
This afternoon, Cathy Lawhon, UCI’s media director, said in an email, “On a campus this large, improving and updating our fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems is a continuous effort. Each year we request funds from the U.C. Regents and other sources for systems that are older and not as effective. We put them all on a prioritized list and replace them as the funds become available. Last year we updated the systems in four buildings.”
Other highlights from the report:
Biological Sciences Greenhouse Replacement ($15 million): “Time, program growth, and the progress of technology have combined to render the facility inadequate to support the needs of biological sciences programs.”
Verano Unit 4 Renovation/Replacement ($41 million): “This graduate and family housing complex, which consists of 20 buildings housing 200 apartments with 400 beds, was constructed in 1976. The two-story buildings are showing extensive deterioration due to age, exposure to the elements, and water penetration in many areas. After evaluating the alternatives — renovation or replacement of the facilities — it was determined that the replacement option would be more cost-effective.
Humanities and Social Sciences Classroom Renovations ($2.3 million): “This project will provide renovations and technology upgrades in two of UCI’s oldest lecture halls: Humanities Hall 178, which has technology deficiencies, and Social Sciences Hall, which has HVAC deficiencies, poor sightlines and acoustics for today’s technologies, and access and entry point limitations.
Sciences Buildings Renovations ($19 million): “This project will renovate science facilities that have seriously deteriorated building systems, or systems that can no longer support the technology required for laboratory-intensive instruction and research activities.”
