Mold removal completed at William and Mary Hall

WILLIAMSBURG The general climate of the Williamsburg area has been cited as the cause of mold growth on the ceiling of William and Mary Hall, for which a remediation project was completed in July, a senior college official said Thursday.

Anna Martin, vice president for administration, said heat and humidity continually causes mold in buildings around the region and the College of William and Mary is no different.

"We stay on top of it all the time all over campus. It's a part of living in Williamsburg," she said.

In the case of William and Mary Hall, where the ceiling tops out at 65 feet above the floor, Martin said remediation involved bringing in 58-foot-tall scaffolding. In an email to the Gazette on Friday, Martin said the project cost the college approximately $1.5 million. That included $1 million for the rental of the scaffolding. The cost also included the cleaning of "years of dirt and grime" in addition to the mold removal, Martin said.

The project was completed July 25 by an outside contractor. The work began about a month after the facility was used for several high school graduations as well as the college's own commencement ceremony.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the presence of mold in indoor spaces can cause health problems such as asthma and allergic reactions.

"There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment," the EPA says on its website.

Martin said in the email that part of the remediation process at William and Mary Hall included painting the ceiling black.

"The black color will not show the dirt and grime as well over time. There is a mold inhibitor in the paint," Martin said.

Sampson can be reached at 757-345-2345.

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Mold removal completed at William and Mary Hall