Lowder Hall, home to the Harbert College of Business, was built in the 1980's when sprinklers were not a requirement for buildings at academic institutions.
Jim Carroll, University architect, said Lowder Hall met building codes when it was constructed.
"Lowder Hall was constructed in the late 1980s, at a time when academic buildings were able to be properly constructed without fire sprinklers and still be code-compliant," Carroll said. "At the time that the building was constructed, it met the appropriate building code."
Though there are no sprinklers, Carroll said Lowder's fire alarm system is up to date with horns and strobe lights.
"In spite of a lack of sprinklers in the facility, the building contains a fire alarm system throughout," Carroll said. "The fire alarm system provides an early-detection system for smoke and fire, allowing Facilities Management and the City of Auburn Fire Department to understand which zone of the building has a reported issue."
Carroll said Lowder's design would meet different safety standards had it been built more recently.
"As you may imagine, building codes change over the years, as the design and construction industry gains experience related to our built environment," Carroll said. "If Lowder Hall were designed and constructed today, we would install sprinklers and a fire alarm throughout the entire facility, not only to meet the current building code, but to meet our own Design Standard."
Connely Doize, sophomore in English, said she learned of Lowder's lack of sprinklers and security cameras one day during class.
“My teacher was talking about the fire in Lowder and she said that the fire was only able to get so big because there are fire sprinklers in the building," Doize said. "Which is crazy, but then she reminded us that Lowder was built when fire regulations weren't put in place.”
Doize said her professor also shared a scary experience she had while teaching in a Lowder lecture hall seating 400 students.
“One time she was in the middle of teaching a class and this random kid ran in, yelled something, collapsed to the floor and then ran out of there," Doize said. "He nearly scared the whole class half to death."
Nothing came of this incident as there was no way to find and discipline the student, Doize said.
"It was probably some kid trying to pull a prank, but what is interesting about the situation is that the guy was never caught,” Doize said.
Chance Corbett, department of public safety and security interim executive director, said the University must pick and choose which areas have cameras and where new ones must be added.
"We do have surveillance cameras in Lowder Hall," Corbett said. "A couple of our cameras were damaged due to the heat of the recent fire, however all cameras have been replaced and are back in service."
Doize said she and other students worry about Lowder's lack of security cameras.
“Auburn is such a safe campus, but you hear all of the stuff going on at other colleges and can't help but think how weird it is.”
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