By
Shana Heiser
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Hole repair to begin Monday
A ground cavity was discovered underneath the Franklin building Wednesday as construction workers continued the renovations on the building's west end.
The cavity's size is unknown, but water has leaked below the west stairwell because of soil erosion and has contributed to the mold that has grown inside the building, Bill Leith, facilities project manager.
Beginning Monday, Facilities Management will fill the hole and remove the bushes near the area so irrigation water will not flow under the building, he said.
"Nobody knows exactly how big the hole is," said Jacqueline Sharkey, acting journalism department head. "They're planning to redirect the drain so that the water flows into the parking lot."
Although the Franklin building does not pose an immediate threat to the University of Arizona community, it could be hazardous in the future, Sharkey said.
"Eventually, after a very long time, the steps could weaken," she said. "They think it (water) goes under the stairwell, in which case, they would crack."
The cavity could have been created in many different ways, such as by broken pipes or bad construction, said Terry Wallace, a geosciences professor.
The sinking of ground, called subsidence, is common in Arizona, but cavity subsidence is not, Wallace said.
"We don't have the kinds of rocks or soil that lead to sinkholes or potholes," he said, "(But) we have a lot of subsidence in Tucson because we pump ground water."
The University of Arizona campus is sinking along with the city of Tucson, Wallace said. He estimated the campus has been lowered by about a meter in the past 100 years.
"The whole campus is squishing down," Wallace said.
However, Wallace said it would be unusual for one building, such as Franklin building, to sink more rapidly than surrounding buildings.
"I'm surprised there's a particular building that's sinking faster than the others," Wallace said.
Leith said maintenance on the area would begin Monday, so the journalism offices will temporarily relocate to the Franklin building mezzanine during the repairs.
The erosion and flooding has occurred over the years, Leith said, and discovering the extent of the problem will take time.
"It's one of those things we need to take a look at further," he said.
