 A pedestrian looks up at the future site of Appalachian State University's Beasley Broadcasting Complex. Due to the recently discovered possibility of structure flooding, construction has stopped. Photo by Holt Menzies
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by BECKY BUSH
Intern News Reporter
The contractors for the new Beasley Broadcasting Complex, located across from Walker Hall, have delayed renovations and construction due to complications with the soil and flood plains.
The plan was to renovate the structure, the depot building, and add on to the back of the building.
Design and Construction Engineer and Project Manager for the Beasley Broadcasting Complex Patrick A. Beville said the crew uncovered many unknown aspects of the existing structure, such as its ability to easily flood.
After realizing
they needed to do special engineering to try and flood-proof the
building, the crew decided to try and raise the new structure out of
the flood plain, Beville said.
The
group produced flood maps to figure out how to avoid flooding within
the structures and discovered with the help of the Federal Emergency
Management Act the 100-year flood level would be 6-feet tall inside the
building, Beville said.
“We’re trying to determine a course of action,” Beville said.
He said
there are poor soils in the back of the building where the group was
planning on adding on to the existing structure, which is a result of
sedimentation from the creek.
“The
soil is very wet and gooey and there was an understanding that we would
have to sink 12-foot pilings under the ground,” Communication
Department Chair Janice T. Pope said. “We’ll have to go back to the
Town of Boone for variance.”
Interim
Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Greg A. Lovins said a new locale
for campus radio station WASU, new TV studios and teaching labs for
communication students will be built in the new building.
Photo by Holt Menzies | Chief Photographer
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