DEVELOPING STORY: Waterline break in Ven Den causes damages

Red caution tape blocks off the entrance into the Ven Den on Feb. 7. Photo by Samantha Church

A severe waterline break caused flooding in the Ven Den and Bohannon 90 on the evening of  Feb. 7, 2018. According to the UMD SAFEU email “a large amount of water flowed into and through Ven Den, into the hallway and into Bohannon 90.”

Classes in Bohannon 90 will be cancelled on Thursday, Feb. 8. The Ven Den area will be closed until further notice.

Crews from Facilities Management and Duluth Fire Department worked to remove the water from the area. According to Building and Grounds crew member Diane Hansen, it took almost two hours to find out where the leak originated. They are still trying to find the cause of the leak.

Supplies hold open the doors to dry the main area that was flooded. Photo by Samantha Church

“I was one of the first people down here,” Hansen said. “They said over the radios that there was a leak and when I got down here I thought, that’s not a leak, that’s way worse.”

Hansen said that the damage caused to the floors and carpeting may result in replacement. She also estimated that there will be damage in the faculty offices that are housed in the hallway connected to the Ven Den as well as potential damage to the upper level of the Motion and Media Across Disciplines Lab.

This is a developing story.