University of Connecticut trustees have approved $19 million in repairs for the law school library in Hartford.
The trustees Tuesday acted on a report that the 11-year-old building has been heavily damaged by leaks and flaws in its granite facade.
The university plans to repair the unstable facade, reinstall waterproofing and windows and replace moldy walls and carpets.
The library was originally built at a cost of $24 million.
The five-story building was designed by S/L/A/M Collaborative, an architectural firm in Glastonbury. The construction manager was Gilbane Building Co. of Rhode Island.
Lombardo Bros. and Mason Contractors erected the facade, taking granite from the same quarry used for the other Gothic Revival structures on campus, built in the early 20th century.
The university is working with the state attorney general’s office to recoup the money from the original contractors and design professionals, James Bradley, associate vice president at UConn, said Tuesday.
An independent architectural firm first found that the granite was coming loose in 2002 and warned that a heavy windstorm could knock down portions of the stone. The firm found the problem while investigating chronic leaks that have plagued the building since it was constructed. At the time, they estimated that it would cost $5 million to $7 million to correct.
Two years ago, a new engineering study estimated that the repairs would cost $12 million.
Trustees asked on Tuesday why the price had now jumped to $19 million.
Bradley explained that the new price reflects inflation and a detailed “forensic” study that revealed more extensive problems.
