By Jeff Murphy,
November 10, 2021
![Nattinger-Bradshaw Fire Drill](/news/university-news/posts/images/nattinger-bradshaw-fire-drill-web.jpg)
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 With the 欧美视频 planning to demolish one
of its aging residence halls, the university is putting the building to temporary
use as a location for training local firefighters.
Nattinger-Bradshaw Hall, constructed in 1963, will be the site for exercises by the
Warrensburg Fire Department that are scheduled to begin Nov. 9 and run possibly into
December during the building鈥檚 predemolition phase. As UCM waits for the building鈥檚
deconstruction to begin, local firefighters will use this site for a wide range of
training, including the opportunity to gain experience using a firetruck with a ladder
capable of reaching the top floor of this five-story building.
Sam Hafley, manager of Environmental Health and Safety at UCM, said this cooperative
effort allows firefighters to train in areas such as search and rescue in a multiple
level building. The training will involve using a smoke generator to make simulations
as realistic as possible, along with opportunities for firefighters to practice using
thermal imaging equipment and other search and rescue tools inside the facility, and
possibly
using the exterior rappelling exercises.
鈥淭he training will involve some weekend and evening drills,鈥 Hafley said.
Demolition of Nattinger-Bradshaw Hall was among items considered by the Board of Governors
when it met during its plenary session on Aug. 19. It approved a $901,200 contract
with Dore & Associates Inc., Bay City, Michigan, to demolish this building and the
Fraternity Complex with costs will be covered through University Housing funds. The
state of Missouri also requires that any asbestos in these buildings be removed prior
to demolition. The university entered a $491,400 contract with Major Abatement and
Demolition, Inc., Blue Springs, to complete this work.
Board documents indicate that the general conditions of Nattinger-Bradshaw and the
Fraternity Complex, built in 1965, is such that the costs to renovate them significantly
outweigh the benefits of doing so. The Fraternity Complex is currently offline due
to significant mechanical issues that are not cost-effective to repair. Nattinger-Bradshaw
is outdated and would require significant expenditures for mechanical systems in order
to continue its operation. Projections indicate UCM will have sufficient housing inventory
without these facilities for at least the next 10 years. Abatement and demolition
is projected to be completed by January 2022.