UGA relocates Graduate Commencement and details 'closely monitoring' Stegeman since 2018
The University of Georgia is moving its Graduate Commencement ceremonies to Sanford Stadium after it closed Stegeman Coliseum last week indefinitely because of damage with its ceiling that require repairs.
The facility “will not reopen until necessary repairs, improvements and inspections are completed—which could take several months,” an email sent by UGA Monday said.
In an email to faculty and staff rom UGA president Jere Morehead, athletic director Josh Brooks and other university leaders, the piece of ceiling material found last Wednesday to have fallen was described as “palm-sized.”
That was said to be the largest of at least three ceiling pieces that have fallen since spring 2018 after a small piece was discovered. That prompted a consultant hired to inspect the ceiling. Repairs were made that summer and there were no findings of “structural distress,” for the building that opened in 1964.
"Stegeman is an older concrete structure, and some cracking and flaking can be expected as such facilities age," the email said.
The school’s Facilities Management Division (FMD) has monitored the concrete structure the last four years.
In 2020, a second small piece was found. An engineering firm again was called to survey the ceiling and make repairs and periodic condition assessments have been conducted since then. No hazards were determined even with some small flakes fallen.
UGA has replaced the Stegeman roof during this time to minimize heat being absorbed and reduce moisture infiltration, according to the email.
Engineering firm, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., was to evaluate the ceiling and devise a more permanent solution and a second opinion was sought from a separate structural engineering firm, Walter P. Moore, which was slated to be onside for an evaluation last Wednesday when the latest piece that fell was found.
The relocated Graduate Commencement will now be held Thursday May 11 at 9:30 a.m. at Sanford Stadium. If there’s inclement weather, it will be held Friday, May 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Separate ceremonies planned for the first time--one for master’s and specialist degrees and another for doctoral degrees—will now be held in a combined ceremony.
Convocation for the Terry College of Business and commencement ceremonies for the College of Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Law will also be relocated. New locations for those will come from those colleges and school when plans are finalized.
UGA's Undergraduate Commencement remains scheduled for May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Clarke County and Oconee County schools are also being forced to relocate their graduation ceremonies due to the Stegeman Coliseum roof repairs.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Here are the latest events relocated due to Stegeman Coliseum closing
