UIC will receive a total of $20.8 million in capital funding for renovation, asbestos abatement

The University of Illinois at Chicago will receive $2.5 million in capital funding so that it can begin planning major campus upgrades. Additionally, the project will receive $20.8 million through the Illinois Jobs Now! Capital construction program and will generate around 140 construction jobs.

The university plans to use this funding to replace windows, elevators, lighting and fire alarm systems, and the College of Dentistry will receive an emergency generator and new fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Abatement of asbestos-containing materials at the College of Medicine buildings is another big and costly project that will be addressed.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring yet carcinogenic mineral that was used regularly in construction from the early 1900’s through the 1970’s. Beginning in the 1980’s the use of asbestos was banned because of its link to the development of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen.

Asbestos abatement and removal is government regulated because the material is highly toxic. The decision to address this problem will no doubt create a much healthier environment for both the university’s students and staff, as prolonged exposure to asbestos can be fatal. Such is the case with mesothelioma. Because this particular type of cancer is so difficult to diagnose, even aggressive mesothelioma treatment, which combines surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is rarely enough to save the patient.

The construction work will be coordinated by the Capital Development Board (CDB), which administers all state-funded, non-road construction projects, and is expected to begin in 2011.