By Jonathan Smith, Managing Editor

The scaffolding that has stood around the Biblical Studies Building since the beginning of summer, should finally begin to come down soon after Homecoming.

Eddie McFadden, manager of building maintenance, said once the large Homecoming crowd leaves, removal of the scaffolding should start by the end of October.

Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, said earlier in the semester that if no delays occurred, he hoped the scaffolding could have come down by the end of September.

“The rain we have had delayed us some, and we had some issues with the glass,” Watson said in an e-mail. “Some of it was cut incorrectly at the plant and had to be redone..”

McFadden said waiting for these materials to arrive from the manufacturer delayed the project.

Some work is being finished, including the installation of windows along the arch of the building.

“Final water testing needs to be done on the windows themselves, checking for leaks and secure installation,” Watson said. “Once that is complete, the testing has been done, the project should be finalized.”

A few windows still will be replaced once the scaffolding is removed because the scaffolding was in the way of installation.

Watson said the delays will increase the overall price of the project but not by a significant amount. The scaffolding had to be rented for longer than originally planned, but the majority of the expense involving the scaffolding came from its construction and removal.

The project, funded by gifts to the university, was expected to have cost $430,000.

Since the beginning of this project, which has included the removal of mildew, the application of new coatings of sealant and the replacement of windows for the Biblical Studies Building and Tower of Light, several unexpected turns in the work have arisen. Besides the delays in the materials’ delivery and from the rain, the project was also delayed early in the process when broken stone was discovered in the buildings and windows could not be installed as planned.

“Projects of this size will almost always throw you a curve ball from time to time,” Watson said. “Eddie has handled each one. I think the university will be pleased with the result.”