The University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson is spending millions of dollars to rehabilitate one of its biggest stars. When the process is complete, she’ll stand up straight and look a fraction of her 122 years. That’s right: Old Main, the oldest building on the UA campus (and the second oldest occupied building in Arizona), is undergoing a major rehabilitation project to reverse age-related deterioration while sprucing up the building’s appearance.
The $9 million university construction project, being performed by Sundt, will include the following components:
- stabilize the perimeter stone wall, which lacks a foundation
- address and resolve subterranean water infiltration
- reinforce the brick columns
- reinforce or reconstruct the second floor porch
- stabilize and level the second floor
- replace metal roof shingles
- stabilize the chimneys
- rebuild the second floor interior for administrative use
“Sundt has built more than 50 projects for the UA , so we know the campus very well,” said Sundt Project Director Kurt Wadlington. “We have a strong design-build team that includes two architectural firms with expertise in historic projects and education.”
The project began last month and will be complete in the spring of 2014. Sundt is currently performing site investigation work to assess the complete condition of the building and explore different solutions to its structural challenges.