Leaks, leaks, go away

Cal State Long Beach officials will gather at The Pyramid during the first week of November, watch a water test be performed on the facility, then walk away hoping an ongoing leakage problem is solved.

This scenario is part of the latest plan to stop The Pyramid from leaking. The facility currently leaks from several spots.

Nielson Construction Co. workers are now installing wedges on The Pyramid's roof, changing more than 1,000 fasteners wherever three panels meet and doing additional caulking.

That job, which began about one week ago, was agreed upon by an outside expert hired by the CSU Board of Trustees to represent the university.

"We've gotten all the help we can get," said Scott Charmack, the associate vice president of Facilities Management.

About 15 proposals to stop leaks in The Pyramid have been suggested, including putting a secondary roof on the facility, but tests showed that the current plan would work best.

"We have every reason to believe that this is the best solution," Charmack said. "This appears to be the very logical one. It's the best one anyone has proposed."

CSULB officials are hoping the problem will be solved before the weather turns against them.

"We want to get this over with," Athletic Director Dave O'Brien said, "before the rains of November and December."

About 70 percent of the leakage problem was solved last year, when a caulking process was undertaken to try and hinder the leaks. But the roof continues to leak and CSULB officials refuse to accept the facility from the construction company until the problem is solved.

Once the leaks are stopped, the university will formally accept the building and the 20-year warranty will go into effect.

"It's unfortunate that we have had this problem," Charmack said. "It's a unique one." And one that may soon be gone.

When the construction company finishes its work, probably during the first week of November, a water test will be administered to the facility.

"I've got my fingers crossed," Charmack said, "just like you. I honestly think this is it."