Restoration to areas of Lowder Hall damaged by a June 27 electrical fire continues as the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business prepares for the start of the 2016-2017 academic year.

All classrooms will be fully restored and ready for use in time for the start of fall semester, according to Bruce Arnold, assistant director of maintenance for Auburn University Facilities Management. Arnold described the efforts as being "97 percent complete" with painting and carpet installation among the remaining tasks affecting areas on the building's ground and first floors. 

Belfor, a disaster recovery and property restoration company, has worked to restore the building’s functionality since an early morning electrical fire on June 27 forced the relocation of summer classes and the temporary displacement of faculty and staff. As many as 250 contractors and sub-contractors have worked at a given time to clean smoke and soot damage from floors and walls, and deodorize and purify air. The company’s thorough approach to the restoration process included an employee watering plants in faculty and staff offices during the closure.

All faculty and staff have been able to return to their offices. The college’s Office of Professional and Career Development and Office of Academic Advising re-opened in their Lowder Hall locations in late-July. 

A complete schedule of relocated summer classes can be found here:http://harbert.auburn.edu/binaries/documents/AlternateClassroomListForLowderHall.pdf

For more updates on Lowder Hall’s restoration, visit: http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/alert/

Images of the fire damage and reconstruction can be viewed here: http://harbert.auburn.edu/new