Asbestos found in Co-op basement, limits access to student belongings

Asbestos, a known carcinogen, was found in a piece of plaster in the basement of the Washington University Cooperatives Quadrangle Housing-owned building, although samples taken by Quadrangle show that asbestos levels fall below Environmental Protection Agency limits.

The Washington University Cooperative is a building in which students divide chores and cooking to foster a collaborative community. It is housed at 6021 Pershing Ave., which was built in 1910 when asbestos was commonly used as a flame-resistant building material. A maintenance team responding to a flooring issue discovered the asbestos.

Co-op residents were concerned that they would lose their possessions, which were stored in the basement despite rules forbidding the use of the basement as a storage space. The basement also serves as a kitchen and gathering location for residents.

Steve Condrin, director of Off-Campus Real Estate for Quadrangle, believes that residents should not look at the issue of asbestos itself but instead the way that Quadrangle is solving it.

The important thing here is for them to know is we have a maintenance team that is well-trained to spot issues, Condrin said, that when it sees a potential issue of concern to health and safety of our residents, they jump on it, and we are also concerned about the property residents keep in our building.

On Oct. 31, dust and air samples were taken throughout the basement and came back below the EPA-approved threshold for asbestos. Samples from the rest of the basement also showed that the asbestos had not spread. Condrin noted there were pieces of similar-looking plaster in the basement that did not contain asbestos.

Quadrangle has hired a licensed team to lead the process of containing the mineral, which is expected to be completed within several weeks. The contaminated area will be sealed off and a machine will lower the pressure in the area to prevent the chemicals used to treat the asbestos from spreading.

Thats something we will not cut any corners on, Condrin said. It will be handled within the applicable guidelines and regulations that are well-known among the vendors that we work with.

He added that he understands the concerns of residents.

I dont think its unreasonable for people to have natural fear and curiosity around asbestos, Condrin said. We share that fear, and we want to make sure that when theres asbestos in these older buildings that it doesnt pose a health risk.

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Asbestos found in Co-op basement, limits access to student belongings