Pipe Leak Destroys Brand New $174 Million Hotel

This story about mold at the Lancaster Hotel and Convention Center is downright painful to hear. Firstly, the building cost $174 million (ouch). Secondly, the building is backed by county and city taxpayers (double ouch). Thirdly, the hotel was found to be infected with mold in multiple rooms on multiple floors before it even opened to the public (I need to lie down).

An anonymous source provided video showing mold growing on both sides of the drywall (a delicious mold food), mold on the firewall insulation, and pipes gushing water.

In fact, the mold which has jeopardized the value of the $174 million building could have originated from a single leaking pipe on the roof. The pipe leads to the air conditioning unit where it could have spread water and contaminated air throughout the convention center. This one leak could have caused the mold in several rooms and on multiple floors. A third party mold remediator confirmed the mold in the footage was “extensive,” noting, “It is pretty severe.”

Of course, the building owners reacted like most businesses do when caught in mold scandals of this scale. They collectively put their fingers in their ears while chanting, “There is no mold. There is no mold.” When presented with pictures of mold in their hotel, they fell back to, “Yes we had water leaks. Yes we had mold,” adding ironically, “We’re trying to be as open and as transparent as we can.”

While the video showed an extensive mold problem, the building owners say it was attacked aggressively. Rooms were closed down and sealed off so it could be removed while the hotel was opened. They say the mold is gone and air tests have passed indoor air quality standards. A dubious claim, considering there are no indoor air quality standards in regard to mold.

It will be interesting to see if the mold was actually removed as the hotel owners claim or if guests and staff will start complaining. It would be a shame to lose a $174 million hotel because of one little leak.

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