Despite flooding and hazardous driving conditions over the weekend, only three classrooms were deemed inaccessible for the start of the fall semester Monday morning.

Rooms 100, 110 and 111 of the visual arts building were the only rooms in the facility which were unable to hold classes after suffering water damage from flooding that occurred Thursday and Friday.

The classrooms, to be used for general education and art classes, suffered water damage to carpet, floor tiles and electrical outlets after water rose from the foundation over the weekend.

The water damage to the visual arts building came from water seeping up through the foundation, said Robert Albanese, associate vice president of finance and facilities. There were eight to 10 people clearing the water at all times Sunday, but they were unable to catch up with the water on that day, he said.

“We expect the classrooms to be up and running by tomorrow, if not Wednesday assuming there is no additional rain,” Albanese said.

Carpet may have to be replaced in some locations, but the current disaster status the county holds may allow for reimbursement, he said.

The building, which lies on the east side of campus, is what Albanese refers to as a “hot spot” with rain, as it is historically where water will flood first. The building is also located on a low-lying area prone to water flow.

The art classes scheduled to be held in the damaged rooms were moved to the Music Building’s concert hall, and the general education classes using the rooms were moved, said Harold Kafer, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Signs posted on the Art Building and outside the affected classrooms directed students to other rooms in DuSable Hall and the Art Building. The rooms are still likely to be inaccessible tomorrow, and the accessibility will be assessed on a day-to-day basis, Kafer said.

Albanese said he was proud of the staff that took care of the clean-up effort by working 16 to 20 hour days. He especially appreciated the efforts of the maintenance and janitorial staff, who “jumped in and got things going.”