An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

36 History of the International Rice Research InstituteThe IRRI researchcenter site in early1960. In the foreground— where the ServiceBuilding now stands —is the foundation of anold UP College ofAgriculture building. Inthe background isHigamot Hill, whichwas leveled to formthe plateau on whichthe original mainbuildings wereconstructed.Construction of the laboratory, administration, and cafeteria-dormitorybuildings started the last week of January and was completed within a year. Aclause was inserted in each contract calling for a 1,000 peso/day penalty forany delays in finishing the construction work. Although both contractors hadasked for an extension, it was not granted except to compensate for a few days’delay in the provision of certain owner-furnished materials. In the main,however, the work went well and the three buildings became a source of prideand interest not only to the Los Baños community but to the nation in general.Two major difficulties inherent in the construction work and equipment ofthe buildings were encountered some time later. The first problem was that theflat roofs developed leaks after a few years of use. Luz had assured me that theroofs would easily last 20 years (although no such guarantees were written intothe contracts). Nevertheless, cracks developed in the reinforced concretecovering the roof, and several thousand dollars had to be spent to strengthenit. Apparently, the original concrete layer had not been thick enough towithstand the mild earthquakes that occurred twice during IRRI’s first decade.The other difficulty that developed was with the airconditioning system in thelaboratory and administration buildings. At the time of construction, therecommended system for central air-conditioning was a water-cooled one.However, in spite of the water softeners in use at the research center from theoutset, deposits of both calcium carbonate and silicates formed on the coppertubing of the cooling system and after 3 years or so of operation noticeably