Workers Remove Asbestos at WJH

Visitors to William James Hall may not notice the extensive ongoing renovations within the building's walls, but those doing the renovating have an extra reason to be cautious--asbestos.

While nothing is unusual outside the mammoth white facade, bright yellow signs posted on the walls and ceilings warn visitors that workers are currently removing insulation sprayed with asbestos.

Harvard officials was originally intending to install fire sprinklers and make general repairs to the building when they discovered the asbestos. Repair costs are estimated at nearly one million dollars per floor.

"We looked into the possibility of renovations without removing the asbestos," said Dean Gallant '72, assistant director of the Center for Behavioral Studies. "But as long as we had to do the renovations, we thought we should take care of any potential problems."

Research has shown that breathing asbestos-tainted air may cause cancer. As part of the "mammoth project," the ceiling and insulation must be removed and the concrete scrubbed to make sure all particles are gone.

Gallant said that there are emergency plans in case part of the ceiling should crumble during construction, and that the air on each floor is tested every three months as a precaution.

For the large number of administrators, faculty members and students who work and go to class in William James Hall every day, the asbestos just over their heads is a concern.

"It's not exactly reassuring, working around those bright yellow signs," said Katsch Belesh, financial assistant to the sociology department. "I have nagging doubts sometimes, but what can you do? They say they're taking care of it."

"Once we explain the precautions we are taking and the fact that all of the workers are specially trained in asbestos removal, people are reassured," Gallant said.

Nick Kurzon '95 agreed. "It worries me a bit, but there's asbestos in my basement too. I'm just glad they're doing something to clean it up."

But not all students are worried. After all, the building is home to Harvard's psychology department.

"Every time something is awry in William James Hall, we just assume it's some psych experiment, and they're trying to record our reactions," said Chuck R. Kapelke '96.