Classes normally held on the third floor of Cherry Hall were relocated or moved online Monday due to water damage discovered Sunday night, according to Potter College of Arts & Letters Dean Terrance Brown and WKU Chief Facilities Officer Bryan Russell.
According to Russell, the WKU Department of Facilities Management “responded to reports of water infiltration affecting only the third floor of Cherry Hall” between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday night. Affected ceiling tiles were removed and wet areas were addressed “as thoroughly as possible,” Russell said in an email.
Russell said the leak appears to have been caused by the drainage system around the cupola being overwhelmed by recent heavy rainfall. As of Monday morning, some areas in the building continued to experience minor dripping from the ceiling’s concrete deck.
“While no physical classrooms were impacted, the area around the elevator and the office beneath the cupola roof experienced some water intrusion,” Russell said. “As a result, classes scheduled in this area have been moved to Zoom.”
Brown said all classes on the third floor of Cherry Hall were rescheduled to take place remotely or in a different location. This adjustment was made for morning classes and was extended to most afternoon classes.
“Rescheduling has been implemented for most classes on the third floor of Cherry Hall,” Brown said. “Unit heads began this process last night with the goal of resuming classes in their regularly assigned spaces by Tuesday, February 18, 2025.”
Cherry Hall is set to receive a renovation following the completion of the new Gordon Ford College of Business building. According to WKU President Timothy Caboni in January, discussions surrounding the renovation of Cherry Hall are ongoing to create more accessibility for community engagement and an updated space for “modern-day students.”
Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn can be reached at edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on X @pricewilborn.
