Bessey Hall Renovation Article
Title
Bessey Hall Renovation Article
Subject
Bessey Hall Rennovation
Description
An article in the Daily Nebraskan describing the renovation that was done on Bessey Hall in 1984.
Creator
The Daily Nebraskan
Source
Daily Nebraskan
Publisher
Unknown
Date
October 25, 1978
Contributor
UNL Archives and Special Collections
Rights
Daily Nebraskan and UNL Archives and Special Collections
Type
Newspaper Article
Text
"Rickety, rackety old Bess past sixty and may get face lift if funds approved"
By the 1981 fall term, students scheduled for classes in Bessey Hall may no longer have to walk creaky floors, swelter in the summer heat or be in fear of a roof cave-in.
Robert Pazderka, construction coordinator for the university, said if the $2,719,000 needed to modernize Bessey Hall is appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature during the next session, maintenance should begin sometime next spring and be completed by August 1981.
Bessey Hall, named for Charles E. Bessey, a world known botanist, was built in 1916 and houses the botany and zoology departments.
Pazderka said since the building is over 50 years old there are "a lot of things to be done," to get the building up to modern standards.
He said major repairs will include a new roof, new windows and panes and fixing the leaks in the basement foundation.
The building's interior will receive new ceilings, floors, air conditioning, new electric and plumbing systems and will be adapted to meet fire and handicap standards.
Once the repairs are finished, Pazderka said, the building will house the geology and anthropology departments.
The geology department currently is located in Morrill Hall, and the anthropology department is in Benton Hall, and are very overcrowded, Pazderka said.
The nursing college will eventually take over Benton Hall when repairs in Bessey are completed, he said.
The University of Nebraska State Museum will take over the vacated space in Morrill Hall, he said.
By the 1981 fall term, students scheduled for classes in Bessey Hall may no longer have to walk creaky floors, swelter in the summer heat or be in fear of a roof cave-in.
Robert Pazderka, construction coordinator for the university, said if the $2,719,000 needed to modernize Bessey Hall is appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature during the next session, maintenance should begin sometime next spring and be completed by August 1981.
Bessey Hall, named for Charles E. Bessey, a world known botanist, was built in 1916 and houses the botany and zoology departments.
Pazderka said since the building is over 50 years old there are "a lot of things to be done," to get the building up to modern standards.
He said major repairs will include a new roof, new windows and panes and fixing the leaks in the basement foundation.
The building's interior will receive new ceilings, floors, air conditioning, new electric and plumbing systems and will be adapted to meet fire and handicap standards.
Once the repairs are finished, Pazderka said, the building will house the geology and anthropology departments.
The geology department currently is located in Morrill Hall, and the anthropology department is in Benton Hall, and are very overcrowded, Pazderka said.
The nursing college will eventually take over Benton Hall when repairs in Bessey are completed, he said.
The University of Nebraska State Museum will take over the vacated space in Morrill Hall, he said.
