Following an investigation last week, Auburn University notified employees and students that Miller Hall would be temporarily closed after the offices of Risk Management and Safety and Facilities Management conducted a test of the building and found evidence of microbial growth in the basement of the building.
An original complaint to the university sent on Oct. 12, 2023, was investigated by RMS but found no evidence of active growth at the time. However, following several large-scale rain events, RMS investigated the building again on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and found visual evidence of issues from moisture in the basement area.
After conducting testing, RMS found microbial growth in the air on three levels: the basement, the first floor and the second floor. The building was summarily closed, and those affected were notified.
All classes in the buildings are currently being held virtually, with the Registrar's Office working to locate alternate classrooms for professors who requested them.
Due to the humid climate of the area, air quality has been a concern for other buildings recently including Cambridge Hall, an on-campus dorm which was closed in August 2023.
According to a statement received by The Plainsman from representatives of the university, RMS has an industrial hygienist on their staff who assesses concerns and collects and analyzes samples that are brought forward.
A third-party vendor has been utilized to start the cleaning process of the building, and RMS will be releasing a report to further explain the external laboratory's findings.
There are three different colleges who are affected by the closure including the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Human Sciences and the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Five departments in the CLA, the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the CHS, and the Department of Mathematics in COSAM have office space and/or classrooms in Miller Hall.
The date for the reopening of the building has not been officially announced and depends on the success of the remediation process, however, the university expects the first and second floors to be open by Jan. 31. The basement of Miller Hall will require more time before opening due to the additional construction required.
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Kristen is a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in business. She has been with The Plainsman since her freshman year serving as a sports writer, podcast editor and host, and most recently, operations managing editor. Carr is currently the editor in chief of The Auburn Plainsman.
Twitter: @kristencarrau
