Bathroom renovations cost $625,000 in Anspach, Foust Halls
A $625,000 plumbing renovation keeps the pipes flowing in two halls on campus.
The bathrooms in Anspach and Foust halls received renovations for repairs throughout the summer. Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Steve Lawrence said the domestic water replacement project was necessary.
The plumbing prior to the recent renovations was installed in 1966, when Anspach opened. Anspach and Foust halls received new water-conserving bathroom fixtures and dual flush toilets.
“The pipes and plumbing were all original to the building. There were a lot of problems with the water flow,” Lawrence said.
Foust Hall, which opened in 1973, had one bathroom on the first and second floor remodeled to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Anspach received an instantaneous steam water heater to replace the old hot water storage tank. Cathy Willermet, assistant professor of anthropology in Anspach Hall, approved of the remodeling.
“It’s nice to have working bathrooms,” Willermet said. “The dual flush saves water, which is very important.”
It was time
The installation of water-efficient bathroom fixtures was not the prime motivator in remodeling the bathrooms.
Rick Kurtz, interim associate dean of the College of Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, said it was time for the upgrade.
“The bathroom remodeling at Anspach Hall was part of a larger plumbing upgrade occurring throughout the building. Over a period of more than 40 years, the plumbing in Anspach had become severely corroded,” Kurtz said. “The situation became so bad that insufficient water was reaching third-floor bathrooms.”
Anspach and Foust halls suffered from similar issues and received the same remedy. The domestic water lines in each building were conveniently replaced in the summer.
“Remodeling the bathrooms as part of the larger plumbing upgrade was efficient and caused the fewest disruptions to building occupants,” Kurtz said. “We now have the good fortune of enjoying a reliable plumbing system and pleasant, environmentally friendly bathrooms.”
