The Coliseum at West Virginia University reopened late Monday after university officials announced the building was safe for occupancy.
Commencement activities slated for May 13-15 at the Coliseum are scheduled to go on as planned, according to a statement from university news service. The university planned to host several graduation ceremonies in the building over that weekend.
The 46-year-old building was closed Friday after construction crews completing a $15 million renovation of the building found a substance believed to be asbestos during demolition. Samples of the material tested positive for containing asbestos, according to the statement. Environmental contractors temporarily sealed off those areas and immediately closed the building.
"The asbestos containing material discovered Friday had been encapsulated in an inaccessible area above ceilings in entrances to the restrooms ringing the concourse, and did not pose a health hazard to any individuals within the building," WVU Director of Environmental Health and Safety John Principe said in the statement.
Principe said the material only was exposed by the renovation work.
Additional samples sent to a third party lab for testing met regulatory clearance levels for occupancy, according to the statement. Samples taken from the seating area and event level on Friday also met regulatory clearance levels for occupancy, officials said.
Access to most areas of the building is available only through the red gate. Normal activities will resume and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will reopen on Tuesday.
"Final cleaning and sampling of a remaining section of the concourse area is currently underway," Principe said. "Out of an abundance of caution, that section remains sealed off."
The Coliseum underwent major asbestos abatement from 1999 to 2000, which closed the facility for about a year.