Learning Resource Center continues to leak, causing alarm to turn off

Behind the LRC building after multiple days of rain. Maren Schwartz/Lariat

Classes were moved out of the Learning Resource Center on Jan. 22 due to a fire alarm malfunction, which caused the lights throughout the building to turn off. 

“The building evacuated, but we repaired the issue with the fire alarm in a couple of hours,” said Jose Recinos, senior director of facilities, maintenance and operations.

Why does the building leak? Is it a weather issue or a pipe issue?

“Once in a while, leaks might come from the air conditioning system, but those are rare. Most of the leaks we get are from the weather,” said Recinos. 

Aside from students, support staff were the first impacted by the leaky building.

 “The alarm went off basically before we opened, so some of the employees were already in the building, and one of the employees contacted campus police,” library assistant Vannie Pham said. 

Pham said no students were allowed in the building from the moment the campus police showed up until it reopened at around 9:40 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22. 

In the morning, classes were relocated mainly to the Business and General Studies Building. Students were allowed back in the LRC after the alarms were set. 

Immediately following the LRC return, “trash bins were being laid out in places where the leaks happened,” Pham said before the stormy weather died down. Staff have not had any additional issues with the alarm system. LRC classes continued even after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state-of-emergency on Sunday, Feb. 4. 

“Saddleback campus will operate normally today with no change in class schedules or locations planned at this time,” said Elliot Stern, president of Saddleback College, on Feb. 5 at 7:05 a.m.

Students should continue to check their email as the weather persists.

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