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Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
6/18/98
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES -The first phase of the renovation project at the Women's Gymnasium on the Northwestern State campus should be finished in about a month, according to Loran Lindsey, director of NSU's Physical Plant.
The $3 million renovation project to turn the building into the home of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training began last September, but was delayed by a Nov. 21 fire which damaged the interior of the building. Contractors began cleaning up the damage caused by the fire along with doing additional demolition and abatement of hazardous material five weeks ago. Asbestos removal and cleanup work was underway when the fire occurred.
"The workers have a bigger mess to clean up, but the work is proceeding well," said Lindsey. "Because of the dry weather, they have not had to deal with any problems with rain. The roof is gone, so they will have to take steps to make the building weather-tight."
Lindsey said officials from NSU, the NCPTT and the Louisiana Division of Administration will meet with project architect Wayne Coco of Simmesport next week to discuss the project and move toward advertising for construction bids.
"Construction on the project should take about 15 to 18 months, so work will probably not be complete until early 2000," said Lindsey.
The gymnasium is the oldest building on the Northwestern campus. It was constructed in 1923 and was closed in 1970. In 1984, the gymnasium was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.
The NCPTT is a group of experts whose work focuses on technical issues in preservation and conservation. The center was created in 1992 under legislation authored by former U.S. Sen. J. Bennett Johnston and began operation at Northwestern in 1994.