Truth Hall to be demolished this spring

Truth Hall, the historic FAMU women’s residence hall constructed in 1958 is set for demolition in April/May of this year. The iconic four-story, 32,000-square-foot building will be razed and will become green space.

Last renovated in 1988, Truth Hall housed as many as 106 students. The building last accommodated students in September-October 2020 but became vacant when, because of low housing occupancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were relocated to the Paddyfote Complex, said Jennifer Wilder Ed.D., director Office of University Housing. Paddyfote was demolished in 2021.

According to an engineering report Truth Hall was plagued by a long list of deficiencies and needed a major renovation. Among them water penetrated the exterior shell of the building, deteriorating windows, and clogged drainage piping in basement window wells allowing standing water to penetrate the masonry walls. Other deficiencies included an unsatisfactory HVAC system, deteriorating piping and plumbing systems, insufficient electrical systems, inadequate fire sprinkler protection, and asbestos floor tiles. The building does not comply with ADA requirements, the report concluded.

Nearly $90 million in campus-wide deferred maintenance 

The deficiencies noted in Truth Hall are among the nearly $90 million in campus-wide deferred maintenance issues identified in a Board of Governors report.  Truth Hall is following the same fate of  McGuinn, Diamond, Wheatley, and Cropper Halls which were demolished in 2019 and made way for  a new amphitheater.
 
FAMU has also recommended the demolition of Gibbs Hall dormitory, which it has identified needs more than $31 million in repairs.