The building underwent a series of renovations this summer to upgrade its airflow, heating and cooling systems. Upon the project's expected completion, a city fire marshal checked the building Thursday, disabling the building's use until three key problem areas are resolved.

Steve Smith, director of public relations, said nine rooms have walls that need drywall extensions to the ceiling, and the building needs new computer cables and fire dampers before the building can be given the green light for use.

"There is going to be a lot of work going on over the next three days," Smith said. "We will be working heavily through the days and the nights, hopefully we will be able to have classes on Monday, but there is definitely a strong possibility that it won't be done in time."

Brooks Hall houses the biology and geology departments. The hall features research laboratories, an animal room, a 24-station departmental computer laboratory, electron microscopes and a greenhouse. It is also home to Brooks Astronomical Observatory.

Facilities Management employees will work on the dry wall extensions and fire dampers, while the Information Technology department will work on updating the building's computer cords, Smith said.

The new ventilation system, he said, also has unexpected difficulties. Smith said the air conditioning units in some rooms are extremely loud.

Although not a problem that would stop classes, Smith said the university would shut down the unit to allow instructors to teach.

"The blowers are extremely loud," he said. "I was in there and I know I wouldn't be able to listen to a professor if I were trying to take a class in some of those rooms."

Jenny Estabrook, a lab supervisor for Michigan Water Research Center stationed in Brooks Hall, was analyzing phosphorus Friday when university employees tapered off sections of classrooms and laboratories with large plastic screening and duct tape. Her lab was one of them.

Estabrook did not mind. In fact, she was excited they were working so virgorously toward completion. Though, she said, instructors are having the toughest time preparing for classes in this process.

"Some of the classrooms aren't quite finished yet, and really some of them are bad — I mean really bad," she said. "They need to get this done because they have to, for the students."

She said the loud noises the new ventalation system is causing is bound to be a problem for teachers as well. She said an average decibel level in Brooks Hall is set at about 21 decibels. She said those rooms are about three times as loud with at least 60 decibels.

Smith said university officials are investigating who is at fault. He said the problems surfaced as a result of the summer renovation project.

The contractor, Smith said, may not be at fault, as they use many subcontractors.

"We will find out where the ball was dropped," Smith said.

If Brooks is closed on Monday, the university plans on informing instructors and students. Instructors will be notified via listserv, while Smith encourages students to call the university's information line at 774-7500.

Ray Barton, a temporary summer employee for building maintenance, said Facilities Management is working quickly, but this sort of last-minute work should not have to happen.

"Somebody definitely goofed on this one," he said.

Check cm-life.com for more updates.