Groundskeeper Mike Mehenka clears ivy vines that had been removed from the exterior of Memorial Hall.Groundskeeper Mike Mehenka clears ivy vines that had been removed from the exterior of Memorial Hall.

Grounds crews clear vines from Memorial Hall

Clearing the ivy from the exterior of Memorial Hall is about more than aesthetics, says Garry Moore, grounds supervisor in Facility Services. Workers stripped the building of its vines last week.

“Ivy actually damages the building’s structure, more than just the mortar,” Moore says. “Once the moisture gets in, the damage can be extensive — roof membranes, window frames, brick, architectural and ornamental pieces can all be compromised.”

While he says the problems caused by ivy outweigh its contributions to ambience, Moore says he prefers the appearance of Memorial Hall without the ivy, anyway.

“Personally, I think the architectural details of that building, that were hidden, look a lot better than the ivy,” he says. “I’d rather have ivy growing on a boring, bland wall before a structure that has some real distinction.”