A series of leaks in McMahon Hall at Fordham Lincoln Center led to temporary hallway closures, repairs in student rooms and flooding in a campus office, according to university officials and residents.
The most visible incident occurred when a hallway near the mail room was closed after a heating system leaked during a recent cold spell. Facilities staff said that unusually low temperatures placed stress on the building’s infrastructure, contributing to several maintenance issues across campus.
In response to projections of consistently below-freezing temperatures, New York City officials issued an “Extreme Cold Warning” for Feb. 7 to 10. Jedd Applebaum, associate director of facilities and chief engineer, said the cold snap was one of the worst in over two decades, forcing heating systems to run continuously and increasing strain on equipment.
The last thing we want to do is impact the students as long as we can provide heat. Jedd Applebaum, Associate Director of Facilities and Chief Engineer
Applebaum said that facilities staff identified the problem quickly but delayed a full repair to avoid shutting off heat to student rooms during freezing temperatures. Instead, workers temporarily contained the leak until conditions allowed for a more permanent fix.
“In order to make the repair, we would have had to shut down certain things,” Applebaum said. “The last thing we want to do is impact the students as long as we can provide heat.”
Facilities crews later completed repairs and reopened the affected hallway. Applebaum said that, while multiple minor leaks occurred across campus during the cold spell, the McMahon incident was the largest. He added that budget constraints did not affect the speed of repairs.
“When it comes to leaks, budget has no bearing on this,” Applebaum said, noting that plumbers, mechanics, a foreman and outside contractors were deployed as needed.
Applebaum said the specific issue in McMahon has been resolved and is unlikely to recur, though he acknowledged that buildings can experience maintenance problems over time.
I kept coming home and finding a puddle on my floor.Nia Guerrero, FCLC ’29
A separate leak flooded the Public Safety office in the building after a sewage clog caused water to come through a ceiling line, according to facilities officials. Applebaum said the incident was unrelated to the heating system and was attended to on the same day.
Bob Dineen, assistant vice president of Public Safety, said a pipe broke outside the office and water flooded into the space, causing temporary disruptions while repairs were completed. Facilities staff removed furniture, restored the sheetrock and repainted the space, Dineen said.
Dineen added that the response time was instantaneous. Public Safety continued operating from another office for about a week while the repairs were being conducted. The department has since moved back into their office space.
Students living in McMahon also reported smaller leaks in individual rooms. Nia Guerrero, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’29, said she discovered water pooling on the floor near an air-conditioning unit in her dorm on the fourth floor.
According to Applebaum, leaks within student rooms were also connected to stress on building systems during the cold weather.
“I kept coming home and finding a puddle on my floor,” Guerrero said.
She initially believed the cause to be snowmelt from her shoes, but later placed paper towels under the unit to test for moisture. After waking from a nap, she said, her floor was soaked.
Guerrero said she submitted a work order and maintenance staff arrived within 15 to 20 minutes. Workers disassembled the unit and addressed the problem, and she has not experienced additional leaks since the repair.
According to Applebaum, leaks within student rooms were also connected to stress on building systems during the cold weather. He said mechanics responded quickly to maintenance requests, replacing or repairing equipment when necessary.
University officials emphasized that the building’s age was not a primary factor in the incidents, noting that McMahon Hall remains within the expected lifespan for major systems. Applebaum noted that facilities staff continue to monitor infrastructure but do not anticipate additional major problems now that outside temperatures have become more moderate.
While recent incidents required temporary closures and repairs, university officials said systems are now functioning normally and underscored ongoing efforts to maintain building operations and student living conditions.
