UO to settle lawsuit over cracks in dormitory floor

EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Oregon will be paid $6.9 million to fix concrete floor slabs in a student dormitory that are tilted, uneven and cracked.

The Register-Guard reported the settlement, approved Friday by the UO Board of Trustees, ended a four-year legal battle over issues with the $55 million Global Scholars Hall.

The UO filed a lawsuit against the dorm’s builder, architect and engineer last year, saying concrete issues would cost between $8 million and $12 million to repair. The school alleged the construction team used a type of concrete slab that allowed twisting and shifting on multiple floors of the dormitory.

Under the settlement agreement, Hoffman Construction of Portland, architect Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP and engineering firm Catena Consulting Engineers will pay more than $6.9 million for engineering services needed for repairs to the floor.