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FAMU's Truth Hall became the latest dorm on campus to face the wrecking ball this week. Built in 1959 and last renovated in 1988 the 32,000 sq ft, 103 bed dorm housed its last residents in fall 2020.
According to an engineering report Truth Hall was plagued by a long list of deficiencies and needed a major renovation. Among them deteriorating windows, clogged drainage piping in basement window wells allowing standing water to penetrate the masonry walls, and water penetrating the exterior shell of the building. 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.
FAMU officials decided it was more cost effective to demolish the dorm rather than renovate it. Truth Hall is following the same fate as McGuinn, Diamond, Wheatley, Cropper Halls which were demolished in 2019. Paddyfote was demolished in 2021
FAMU has also recommended the demolition of Gibbs Hall dormitory, which the university says needs more than $31 million in repairs, despite spending nearly $2 million to shore up its foundation.The deficiencies noted in Truth Hall are among the nearly $90 million in campus-widedeferred maintenance issues identified in a Board of Governors report.