Construction at Texas University Causes Small Fire

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/28/21

Renovations to the Moody Coliseum on the campus of Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, resulted in a small fire on Tuesday night. The Abilene Fire Department responded to the call at about 10:30 p.m. and extinguished the flames without incident.

The fire was located in an upper area of the structure that was under construction; university officials said that it was on rebar near the roof. Several firetrucks arrived at the scene. Firefighters were able to put out the fire before it caused any significant damage, and there were no injuries reported.

The department estimated the damage at about $5,000. University spokeswoman Wendy Kilmer said that the fire was related to ongoing construction, but its exact cause—as well as its effect on construction moving forward—is still under investigation.

Renovations to the Moody Coliseum began in December. Upgrades to the 50-year-old sports arena will include extra leg room, larger seats, an added hospitality room, and accessibility upgrades. In order to improve the comfort of event attendees, the arena’s capacity is being reduced from about 4,100 to about 3,600. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2022.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • The Role of Unified Communications in Hyflex Education

    Academic technology and pedagogy have evolved in ways few could have imagined a decade ago. Today, hybrid/flexible (or hyflex) learning environments — a mix of in-person and remote instruction — are the new normal. However, as promising as it sounds, making hyflex work smoothly is no small feat.

  • S4L Launches 2025 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey

    Spaces4Learning recently launched its 2025 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey, which gathers information on K–12 and higher education construction projects nationwide from the previous year. The data we get from you, our readers, forms an industry report offering an overview of current trends in school facilities.

  • Agualta STEAM Engine

    Outdoor Learning Spaces and Biophilic Design Create Community in East Los Angeles

    Griffith STEAM Magnet Middle School's Agualta STEAM Engine blends education, community, and nature through its adaptable design.

  • Key Considerations for Office-to-Higher-Education Facility Conversions

    Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, office-to-alternative-use conversions have become a recurring subject of urban development discourse. Office utilization rates across major U.S. cities remain below 50%, with vacancy rates exceeding 27% in San Francisco and 16% in New York. Higher education facilities present programmatic and spatial use cases that align readily with the typical characteristics of commercial office buildings.

Digital Edition