Renovations on the Sam Carver Gymnasium are continuing on schedule, despite minor surprises, Western’s Director of Communications Paul Cocke said. Workers have encountered slightly more asbestos than expected, as well as a few parts of old concrete foundations, Cocke said. Carver Gym will be completed in time to host the spring 2017 commencement as planned, Cocke said. Spring 2016 commencement will take place at Civic Field and all others will be in the Performing Arts Center. The concrete foundations are remnants from old residential uses of the site and from the World War II barracks that once sat on the property, Cocke said. Asbestos was known to be in the building and a team has been working on removal. Cocke said the project is on budget. In September Cocke told the Bellingham Herald that the cost of the renovations was estimated at $73 million. The Washington State Legislature allocated $70 million for the project according to the Herald, with $6 million to be repaid to the state from the university. After the spring 2017 commencement is held in Carver Gym, the building will be furnished and open for classes in fall 2017, Cocke said. Next week crews will continue to erect steel framing among other structural improvements.
