Dwight Bentel Hall (Bruce Cramer photo)
Media contact: Pat Lopes Harris, 408-924-1748
SAN JOSE, CA – Dwight Bentel Hall, home to San Jose State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, will be closed to students Aug. 25 and 26.
Students in classes scheduled to meet in DBH for the first time on Monday or Tuesday should go directly to the new Student Union Ballrooms A and B (Monday) or Ballroom A (Tuesday).
Report to the table identified with your classroom number (for example, DBH 133) to receive instructions from faculty members. Staff will also be outside DBH to direct students as needed.
Water damage
On Tuesday, Aug. 19, construction crews identified water damage to corridor and restroom walls in the east wing of DBH.
Moisture was also reported in some offices and hallways. The cause was a leak in the steam distribution system that runs beneath the building.
After the damage was discovered, SJSU’s Environmental Health and Safety staff conducted an immediate review.
Materials were removed, the affected area was sealed off, and efforts were initiated to eliminate residual moisture using industrial fans and dehumidifiers.
Repairs underway
SJSU will assess repair efforts throughout the week and provide updates as needed. Initially, repairs were to be concluded in time for the first day of fall semester.
Construction crews spent the summer renovating the overall structure, originally completed in 1911, and renovated and re-opened in 1991. The temporary closure affects approximately 28 faculty members and 1,250 students.
“The good news is that we are well on our way to bringing one of our most historic buildings into the 21st century,” Provost Andrew Hale Feinstein said.
“We are doing our very best to honor the legacy of the late Dwight Bentel, founder of our top-notch journalism program.”
San Jose State University — Silicon Valley’s largest institution of higher learning with 30,000 students and 3,850 employees — is part of the California State University system. SJSU’s 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation’s 10th largest city.