CSU trustees earmark $50M to remove, replace Warren Hall

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Determined unsafe in an earthquake by the CSU Seismic Review Board, Warren Hall is slated for demolition in July.

  • February 1, 2013
  • By Monique Beeler

Construction of a five-story building to replace Warren Hall is due to start in the fall on the Hayward campus, following a California State University board of trustees decision at its January meeting. CSUEB’s towering former administrative building, which has been empty since January 2011, is slated for demolition in the summer.

The first phase of the Warren Hall removal and replacement project begins later this month and will affect bus and shuttle routes and parking on the west side of the Hayward campus through early April.

At its Jan. 22 meeting, the CSU board of trustees authorized $50 million to replace Warren Hall, rated the least safe building in an earthquake systemwide by the CSU Seismic Review Board. The project budget includes $12.8 million to cover the cost of removing hazardous materials such as asbestos in ceiling and floor tiles, recycling aluminum window frames and imploding Warren Hall.

Before the new 67,000 square-foot replacement building goes up on the east side of campus, on the site of the former Early Childhood Education Center, the iconic tower on the hill visible for miles must come down. Step one in the process is slated to start Feb. 13 when crews begin dismantling from the inside the overhead walkway connecting the library to Warren Hall. Hazardous materials will be removed from the space before demolition of the overhead walkway, or bridge, takes place, explained Keat Saw, CSUEB director for planning, design and construction.

“The bridge will be taken down floor-by-floor,” Saw said. “This is going to take (about) seven weeks till it’s all demolished.”

The bridge spanning West Loop Road formerly housed staff offices and library book stacks. During the first three to four weeks of demolition inside the bridge, the work is not expected to be visible from the outside, Saw said. A plywood wall will be constructed on the library side, covering the gap caused by the bridge removal. A safety railing will be erected along the roof level.

Sections of parking lots A and B closest to Warren Hall will be fenced off starting in mid-February and used as construction staging areas. Parking spaces in lots A and B will be limited but the lots will remain open with 325 spaces available for employee parking.

Road blocks will go up in mid-February, closing off car traffic along West Loop Road directly in front of Warren Hall. A pedestrian walkway will allow foot traffic in the area.

As of Feb. 15, AC Transit's route 60 bus will make a lone stop on Old Hilary Road near the SA Building. The campus shuttle also will use a single bus stop, picking up and dropping off passengers at the Recreation and Wellness Center, through early April.

“We are not expecting any major delays in service but with the construction taking place on Mission Boulevard, it can from time to time affect our on-time rate,” said Mark Almeida of CSUEB transportation services.

Find additional under Announcements on the CSUEB Facilities Development and Operations Web site.