Greensboro College Student Center Damaged by Fire
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2021
Greensboro College Office of Communications
Greensboro College Student Center Damaged by Fire
Greensboro, N.C.–An early Saturday morning fire in Greensboro College’s Student Center damaged Britt’s Coffeehouse. No one was in the building at the time and there were no injuries.
Although the official investigation by the Greensboro Fire Department (GFD) is not yet complete, the fire appears to have started in a cooler-freezer in the back prep room, which may indicate faulty wiring. The damage was contained by the GFD to the upstairs southeast corner of the building. The building was fully renovated only two years ago and the equipment was new at that time.
Fire and water damage to the coffee shop will close it for operation while repairs take place. The Sankofa Center below had minimal water damage due to tarps the GFD put in place to protect that area from water. The rest of the building will be treated for smoke damage but will be operational as soon as possible.
College President Lawrence Czarda was called to the scene shortly after midnight on Saturday morning.
Fewer than a dozen staffers were asleep in the nearby residence halls since students have not yet returned to campus for the fall semester. Given that none of the dorms were threatened by the blaze, they were not evacuated.
“While we are disappointed to start the fall semester without full use of our student gathering place, we are fortunate that the fire damage was limited to a relatively small area. We are very grateful for the work of the Greensboro Fire Department,” Dr. Czarda added.
About Greensboro College:
Greensboro College provides a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs. Founded in 1838 and located in downtown Greensboro, the college enrolls about 1,000 students from 29 states and territories, the District of Columbia, and seven foreign countries in its undergraduate liberal-arts program and six master’s degree programs. In addition to rigorous academics and a well-supported Honors program, the school features a 17-sport NCAA Division III athletic program and dozens of service and recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.greensboro.edu.
Think critically. Act justly. Live faithfully.
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GC Office of Communications
Greensboro College
815 W. Market St.
Greensboro, N.C. 27401
336-272-7102, ext. 5491
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