After a fire broke out in a research lab months ago, UNC is still performing repairs within an academic and lab building.

A university spokesperson confirmed to Chapelboro that Marsico Hall, which is located along Mason Farm Road and is near to the UNC Hospitals campus, is continuing to undergo restoration efforts following a brief fire in March. At the time, the Town of Chapel Hill Fire Department said the fire began shortly before 11 p.m. and required several firefighter crews to put out flames that were not reached by the building’s sprinkler system. The UNC Environment, Health and Safety department was set to investigate the cause.

While the direct cause of the fire is undiscovered, according to UNC, the blaze is “likely” credited to a hot plate and stirrer in a research lab igniting and a fire starting in a chemical fume hood. The university confirmed its location was in a research lab on the second floor, with the fire going on to damage the lab where it originated.

Beyond the fire, parts of Marsico Hall’s second floor, first floor, basement, and sub-basement floors also suffered water damage due to the sprinkler system turning on to put out the fire. The UNC spokesperson said as of this week, contractors are approximately 30 percent complete with their restoration of the affected parts in the building.

Marsico Hall was constructed in 2014 and is listed as an academic building by UNC, but is predominantly home to research labs and several centers to a variety of departments. The School of Medicine’s Biomedical Research Imaging Center and Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research Center are located there, as well as areas for the School of Pharmacy, the Biochemistry and Biophysics departments, and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

UNC specified this week that the areas affected by the March fire are primarily research spaces that are not used for instruction, with other spaces on campus made available for those whose labs were affected. The areas will continue to be closed off while restoration is being completed over the coming weeks.

UNC is set to begin its new academic year for all students, with classes for the 2023-24 fall semester beginning on Monday, August 21.

 

Photo via UNC School of Medicine.

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