Asbestos to be removed from Hearnes Center

Asbestos will have to be removed from the Hearnes Center amid repairs from flooding that caused upwards of $100,000 in damage.

University of Missouri athletics spokesman Nick Joos confirmed the asbestos abatement Thursday in an email to ABC 17 News.

He said asbestos removal will be done in the concourse as the tile is replaced after water damage from last month’s flooding. Joos said insurance will pay for the removal.

According to data from the Department of Natural Resources, the asbestos abatement is scheduled to be completed Oct. 26.

The Hearnes Center flooded late last month after a water main broke outside the building, damaging the arena floor. At the time, MU spokesperson Christian Basi said the damage would likely exceed $100,000.

The Hearnes Center was built in 1969. According to MU’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety, a building built before 1981 is likely to contain asbestos building materials. According to the department, intact asbestos containing materials do not pose a health risk. It only becomes a problem when asbestos fibers get into the air