Newsroom

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Several buildings on the Oregon State University campus will be without power this weekend to allow Pacific Power & Light to replace some of the older switches that bring electricity to the buildings from outside lines.

The work is part of a long-term plan to modernize the university's power grid, according to Brian Thorsness, executive director of campus operations for OSU.

"This is an early step in an ongoing effort to provide greater power system stability on campus," Thorsness said.

OSU has experienced several power outages over the past 2-3 years due to the antiquated system. An electrical fire in the steam tunnels underneath the campus caused an outage throughout much of the campus two years ago and a power outage last year prevented alarms from going off and alerting campus officials to flooding at the new Linus Pauling Science Center.

During the work this weekend, Pacific Power & Light will have trucks and equipment staged along Campus Way between 14th Street and Waldo Place. Buildings that will be without power this Sunday, April 21 (from roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), are as follows:

• Covell Hall
• Merryfield Hall (west end)
• Graf Hall
• Batcheller Hall
• Benton Hall

Several other buildings will be without power from 8 to 10 a.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m. They are:

• Milam Hall
• Bexell Hall
• Kidder Hall
• Milne Computer Center
• Gleeson Hall
• Gilkey Hall
• Gilbert addition
• Shepard Hall
• Dearborn Hall
• Rogers Hall

Two other dates have been scheduled for building shutdowns, campus officials say. On Sunday, April 28, these buildings will be without power from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Withycombe, Nash, Gilmore, Ballard Extension and the Women's Building.

On Sunday, June 16, these buildings will be affected by power shutdowns: Withycombe, McNary, Wilson, Callahan, Nash, Gilmore, Ballard Extension, Women's Building, Snell, McAlexander Fieldhouse, Gladys Valley Gymnastics Center, Pharmacy, Women's Center, Education and Kerr Administration.