WGB - The impact of it being destroyed ?

ziedth wrote: »

i'm on the mobile site so i can't link too it bit on the UCC main page there is an update for the building that seemed fairly positive. No word on when reopening though

Here is the update

FLOOD DAMAGE AT UCC - UPDATE
22.11.2009
UCC staff and contractors under the direction of the Office of Buildings & Estates, have continued to work throughout the weekend to recover buildings and equipment damaged in the unprecedented flooding of recent days. The following is a brief summary of the situation as of noon on Sunday:
Victoria Lodge/Castlewhite/University Hall
All ground floor apartments have been badly water damaged. A major clean up is underway. The basement of UH (power centre, storage, 2 remaining cars) will be pumped out tomorrow to allow further review. Power supply should be available to CW/LH early next week.

Glucksman
The Lewis Glucksman Gallery has suffered extensive flood damage to its basement area. The basement area houses the art stores, a major plant area and the kitchens. The recovery operation is underway and the gallery team is working closely with conservation experts on site. The main exhibition spaces were not affected but the gallery will remain closed until futher notice.

Western Road Houses
There is significant ground floor damage. Department staff are on site sorting documentation etc. Carpets have been stripped and dehumidification/cleaning is underway. It is hoped to have the upper floors available for Monday.

North Mall
There is significant damage to ground floor offices, teaching rooms and labs. All departments are busy on site sorting material. Strip-out of carpets and dehumidification/cleaning etc, has commenced. All departments are co-operating on trying to relocate staff temporarily on site. The water supply is off at present and a temporary supply may be needed. The power supply has been restored. We hope to allow occupation of upper floors for Monday. Significant further work will be necessary.

Western Gateway
The basement has been pumped out and clean up/drying out of transformer/panels has commenced. The power supply/heating is on critical path to allow reoccupation of upper floors. Surveys have commenced and a major review has been scheduled for Monday am. The main auditorium will need complete rebuilding. Carpets are being removed from labs/teaching rooms and clean up of sub-floor is underway.

Connolly
There is damage to open access labs, teaching rooms etc. Clean up has commenced.

Tyndall
Clean up nearing completion. It should be possible to reoccupy the complex tomorrow, Monday. Major equipment items will be assessed next week.

Work will continue tomorrow, Monday and further updates will be posted to this site.

Jeebus wrote: »

Maybe while UCC are raping their insurance company they can use the leftover money to throw in a few bloody windows, like...maybe tier the lecture rooms a bit...get a few decent blackboards....;)

I seriously hope not! If they do the dog on the insurance, it will go up, because these floods are gonna be likely again according to some experts. If its gonna cost the college more to insure themselves, who do you think will get the cost?? Anyway, they are only insured for the damage, nothing more, so it isn't possible to do the dog on it!

Saw a guy on the news whose business got flooded in 2003 in Galway, his insurance for that year was €4,000, and he claimed for the flood damage. His insurance premium for the next year was €32,000.

Just some info I found - FAQ about the flood

Flood Damage: Frequently Asked Questions

Was the flood expected?
No, the flood last Thursday (19/11/09) was an unprecedented event that significantly exceeded any previous recorded flood in the UCC campus since the construction of the Inniscarra Dam in the 1950’s. Following a major flood in the city in 1986, a study projected flood levels along the course of the River Channels for a 1:250 year event. All UCC’s recently constructed buildings were placed above the flood level at the relevant locations.

The old Greyhound Track and Lower Grounds are prone to flooding, according to the available data – why build there in the first place?
The Greyhound Track regularly flooded prior to UCC’s development of the site. The building was constructed at a level two metres higher than the original ground level. In relation to the Glucksman, the building was constructed over a metre higher than the lower ground and 200-300mm higher than protective berm on the bank of the river. The buildings were designed and constructed above projected flood levels. The floods experienced last Thursday were extraordinary and affected all recently constructed building in the west of the city including County Hall, Kingsley Hotel, etc., and other areas never previously flooded. As an example, the ground level of the Glucksman was set at 3.31m AOD approximately 300mm above the projected flood level given in the above study. The levels of the flood water were approximately one metre above the finished floor level.

What process was involved in the decision to go ahead at these two sites?
All capital projects go through a rigorous design and planning process. External experienced design engineers are part of an overall design team who prepare designs, undertake environmental analysis and submit projects for approval to the local authority. The planning authority scrutinise all project details based on their overall knowledge of the surrounding environs prior to granting planning permission.

Was expert opinion sought specifically on the potential danger of flooding at the sites?
The project designs include experienced consultant engineers with significant experience of construction projects in the city and its environs. Environmental report\statements are prepared as part of the design process which challenge the suitability of site selection.

Given the historic danger of flooding and numerous previous examples, was consideration given to putting the Western Gateway on stilts?
The building was constructed well above any previous recorded flood level on the site. The overall design solution for any project must take into account building access, visual impact, security etc., and the best available data in finalising a design solution.

What was the rationale behind allowing basement areas to be used for art storage/expensive equipment in Glucksman and Western Gateway Building?
It is common practice to use basement areas for plant and storage areas. These areas are tanked to a high specification for protection against the ingress of ground water. As stated above, the floor levels are set above historical flood levels for the site.

Will policy on basement usage now be reviewed and will new contingency plans be prepared?
The recent flood event changes everything. It is difficult at this stage to draw conclusions with regard to the cause of the flood. The Office of Public Works are finalising a new a River Lee CFRAMS (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study) which will establish the likely impacts of global warming, changes in land use etc, and will recommend long term strategies for the management of flood risk in Cork City. This report and an analysis of the event in the last week will inform future UCC strategy.