Engineers and University of Hawaii administrators have determined Gartley Hall at UH-Manoa is now safe to enter but cannot be used for classes and offices.

A recently completed study of the building determined that after the building was reinforced with wooden beams, it is not in immediate danger of collapse, said David Hafner, the UH-Manoa assistant vice chancellor for campus services.

“;You can go into the building, but they are not recommending that we use it as an operating building,”; Hafner said.

Hafner said there is also a larger problem in determining a long-term fix to the underground streams that damaged Gartley Hall's foundation and could be affecting other buildings in the northwestern corner of campus.

“;We still have to figure out how to stop all the water,”; he said.

A Business College building above Gartley had to be torn down because of underground water problems, and the School of Architecture Building, Saunders Hall and Queen Liliuokalani Student Center are all experiencing some settling, Hafner said.

“;We suspect the water is creating the settling,”; he said. “;We have a long-term concern about Manoa Stream and the potential for additional flood damage on campus.”;

UH had proposed to spend $3 million on a comprehensive storm water and flood control plan for the campus. But all funds for repairs and maintenance were taken out of the UH budget by the governor, Hafner said.

UH Associate Vice President for Capital Improvements Brian Minaai said the university will be lobbying the Legislature to restore the repair and maintenance funding.

Hafner said initial discussions with engineers and architects suggest that there should be a way to save Gartley Hall, which was home to the Psychology Department.

UH recently awarded a $280,000 engineering study contract to determine what needs to be done to stop the water from coming into Gartley.

The university was in the midst of designing a $13 million renovation of the 88-year-old building when the structural problems at Gartley were discovered.

It likely will cost more money to modify the design after the new engineering study is completed, Hafner said.

“;The last resort would be to take the building down,”; he said.

In the meantime, workers are moving the Outreach College into newly leased space downtown and to a newly cleared area at Sinclair Library so the Psychology Department can move into Krauss and Sakamaki halls, where the Outreach College was located.

Now that engineers have determined Gartley is safe to enter, the workers will begin moving furniture and other materials into Krauss and Sakamaki halls before the new semester begins, Hafner said.