Stablized Marist Hall Open for Spring 2012

Sam O'Mahony, Tower Staff
January 14, 2012
Filed under News

Marist Hall is once again welcoming members of the Catholic University of America through her doors, for the first time since September, when Marist was deemed unsafe by university officials. All but the earthquake battered southern wing– which is still closed for repairs from damage resulting from last Augusts seismic activity– is safe to once again be used for its purpose in academia.

The university moved all of the academic offices back into Marist in time for the Christmas recess, and has set up the repairs into two phases, all concentrated in the south-west corner of the hill-top building. The first phase will have construction crews securing each floor, while the second phase includes replacing all floors and walls in the affected area.

According to Mr. Victor Nakas, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs, “Structural engineers are in discussions about the best way to accomplish [these repairs], and we still need to obtain the necessary permits.”

Throughout the fall semester, numerous classes and offices including those of the English and Politics departments were shuffled throughout campus– frustrating some students and professors.

There was much debate earlier in the previous semester on the fate of Marist Hall, but a study taken up by the Baltimore, Maryland architectural firm Ayers Saint Gross revealed that Marist Hall contributes positively to the Catholic University campus.

The University expects that the second phase of the Marist Hall renovations will be completed by
the end of the semester.