Despite delays, renovations on UC Berkeley's iconic Sather Tower, also known as the Campanile, are expected to be completed by the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

The $1.2 million project to repair the tower's spire, which is being funded by deferred maintenance funds from the state, was initially expected to be completed by the beginning of the fall 2009 semester.

But delays arising from the tower's old age and the refurbishment of its 95-year-old beacon lantern, which was taken off site for repairs, have pushed back expectations for the project's completion, according to Christine Shaff, campus Communications Manager for Facilities Services.

According to Shaff, the renovations aim to fix deterioration of the tower that has accumulated over decades. The deferred maintenance will improve waterproofing on the spire and repair the lantern and its support structure, Shaff said.

But she added that the tower's old age as well as unforeseen deterioration on its spire have complicated efforts.

"Sometimes we found conditions we didn't expect," she said. "We had great estimates, but it's only when you get up top, 307 feet in the air, that you can really tell how things are."

She said complications also arose from the unavailability of accurate architectural data on the tower.

Because architectural drawings for buildings as old as the Campanile are often misplaced or not as detailed as those for more modern structures, renovations around campus can experience some setbacks, Shaff said.

"Sometimes the detail of the drawings is lower," she said. "You just don't have the drawings, maybe they were filed differently, all sorts of things."

Tags: CAMPANILE