UNR dorms damaged in blast to remain closed for 1-2 years

Structural engineers with experience responding to earthquakes and natural disasters are helping experts at the University of Nevada, Reno with efforts to rebuild this dormitory, Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Reno, Nev., where a natural gas explosion blew out walls and windows last week. Eight people suffered minor injuries in the July 5 blast. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner)

Structural engineers with experience responding to earthquakes and natural disasters are helping experts at the University of Nevada, Reno with efforts to rebuild this dormitory, Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Reno, Nev., where a natural gas explosion blew out walls and windows last week. School officials gave members of the media their first up-close look at the exterior and interior damage on Thursday. Only eight people suffered minor injuries in the July 5 blast. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner)

A first-floor cafeteria at a University of Nevada, Reno dormitory was damaged after a July 5 natural gas explosion blew out walls and windows in Reno, Nev., Thursday, July 11, 2019. School officials gave members of the media their first up-close look at the exterior and interior damage on Thursday. Only eight people suffered minor injuries in the explosion at the mostly empty dorm. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner)

University of Nevada, Reno Police Chief Todd Renwick describes the damage inside a school dormitory from a July 5 natural gas explosion, Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Reno, Nev., during a tour that gave members of their media their first look at the interior. Structural engineers with experience responding to earthquakes and natural disasters are helping with efforts to rebuild it over the next year or so. Eight people suffered minor injuries in the blast at the mostly empty Argenta Hall. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner)

Damage is seen in the first-floor cafeteria at a University of Nevada, Reno dormitory, Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Reno, Nev., where a July 5 natural gas explosion blew out walls and windows. School officials gave members of the media their first up-close look at the exterior and interior damage on Thursday. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner)

This photo taken Thursday, July 11, 2019 shows some of the damage in the first-floor cafeteria at a University of Nevada, Reno dormitory where a July 5 natural gas explosion blew out walls and windows. School officials gave members of the media their first up-close look at the exterior and interior damage on Thursday. Only eight people suffered minor injuries in the explosion at the mostly empty dorm. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner)

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The Associated Press

July 16, 2019 - 8:00 am

RENO — Both of the dormitories damaged in a natural gas explosion at the University of Nevada, Reno, will remain closed for at least a year and the most severely damaged one isn’t expected to reopen until at least the fall of 2021.

School officials said Monday they’re making progress on plans to find housing for 1,300 students who were scheduled to live in Argenta and Nye halls when the fall semester begins at the end of next month.

A July 5 explosion in a basement boiler room at Argenta Hall led to a much larger gas blast that blew out walls and windows, but caused only minor injuries to eight people.

School officials say they’re already developing requests for architectural design and rebuilding of the residence halls. They hope Nye can reopen by fall 2020 and Argenta by fall 2021.

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