Hall of Languages

HL Recovers From December Fire

The Hall of Languages, the oldest, most enduring landmark on our campus and the home of Arts and Sciences, re-opened its doors on January 2, after it was closed for two weeks, the result of an elevator motor fire.

The fire was contained in a mechanical room on the first floor, but a large puddle of hydraulic fluid damaged flooring, doorways, and walls. Oily smoke permeated much of the building, leaving a film on many surfaces as well as a pungent odor. More than 140 staff and faculty members were temporarily displaced.

The building, which underwent extensive remediation work during the closure, sustained no structural damage. Opened in 1873, the Hall of Languages served as the University’s sole structure for 14 years.