New College Dock Closed Due to Structural Damage

(August 17, 2010) – Structural field work at New College of Florida this week determined that the bayfront dock behind College Hall is unsafe.  Photos taken under the dock show diagonal shear cracking (see photo), which typically causes catastrophic failure with little warning.  Because of these issues, the College has closed access to the dock.

To protect the safety of the campus community and visitors, caution flagging has been placed around the dock to notify the public about the danger. This will soon be replaced with fencing and signage.  The College urges all members of the campus community, as well as visitors to the College, to please stay off the dock and keep clear of the flagging and fencing.

At present, the College is deciding whether to demolish the dock or to shore it up.  The engineering field work during which damage to the dock was discovered is part of an ongoing project to redesign and repair the seawall, dock and College Hall bay front. Replacing the dock will be addressed as part of that larger project.

For more information, please contact Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Julie Morris (941-487-4527/[email protected]) or Senior Architect Jack Whelan (941-487-4694/[email protected]).