Gruening building restored following December pipe break

The Gruening building shortly after the flooding.
Photos by UAF Facilities Services
The Gruening building shortly after the flooding.

Feb. 2, 2026

Following a major sprinkler line break caused by extreme cold on December 9, the Gruening Building is officially back online. Thanks to the rapid mobilization of UAF Facilities Services and several local contractors, the team successfully extracted hundreds of gallons of water and mitigated damage to critical instructional space on Levels 2 and 3.

From emergency extraction and specialized concrete drying to the reconstruction of wall and floor finishes, crews worked through the holiday break to ensure a safe return for students and staff.

Student study lounge repairs wrap up in the Gruening building.
Student study lounge repairs wrap up in the Gruening building.

A massive thank you to everyone involved for the resilience and seamless coordination required to get these spaces ready for the start of the term.

For more information, contact Cameron Wohlford at 907-474-5299.