Adobe Stock
By Yanelli Zavina Robles
Ancient Meso-American art studied by students in Building 83 was often made with molds. Art Professor Dr. Mark Van Stone was not expecting the other kind of molds he encountered.
SWC’s theater-style art classroom and surrounding areas were closed due to a mold outbreak college officials blamed on an aging air conditioner. Moisture accumulated in vents, according to SWC spokesperson Sofia Salgado Robitaille, feeding spores in the system’s ducts.
Jennifer Donovan, Instructional Lab Technician for Visual Arts, said the HVAC system made the room feel like winter during the summer. Temperatures around 55 degrees made it difficult for students to learn, she said.
“Last semester students brought their winter coats,” she said.
Mold in Building 83 forced staff to move out. Professor Phil Saenz said he was not aware of the outbreak.
“If there was mold in building 83, I wish I had known,” he said.
Van Stone agreed. He said he got information second hand or through his dean’s office after he inquired. HVAC issues in Building 83 are constant, he said.
“In previous years it would be cold for the first 2-4 weeks,” he said. “We’d complain and complain, and then it would be fixed. But over the last two years it’s been decaying.”
Donovan said Aerial French, the ILT for the woodshop, saw moisture from the HVAC system.
“I went to the dean and asked how long we can (safely) spend in there, if we have to wear a mask,” she said. “(I asked) why are we being limited (to 10 minutes in the building).”
Donovan said an email from facilities personnel said the closure was not due to high spore counts but to insufficient cooling. The message said the entire area had to be shut down until work was complete.
“I thought, well, did you test for high spore counts?” she said. “I felt the response was a preemptive response to avoid any kind of (liability) because I mentioned health risk.”
Donovan said communication from the college was insufficient.
Robitaille said Room 105 in Building 83 had “elevated moisture levels and signs of mold growth.” SWC implemented a “comprehensive remediation and repair plan,” she said, that included mold remediation, HVAC repairs, moister control and clearance testing.
“Building 83 was temporarily closed during the process,” she said. “All treated areas have since been cleared for safe occupancy.”
Facilities Director Martin Morozowsky said his staff handled the situation well.
“Southwestern College remained committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for students, faculty and staff,” he said. “These actions reflected our dedication to proactive facility management and community well-being.”
