La Cucina needs breath of fresh air

Tuesday, March 2, 1999

La Cucina needs breath of fresh air

ASUCLA: Poor ventilation must be improved before restaurant
begins serving

By Neal Narahara

Daily Bruin Contributor

By all accounts, the opening of La Cucina has been a difficult
process, and there is no end in sight.

La Cucina, which has experienced numerous delays this academic
year, has no projected opening date. It was originally scheduled to
open at the beginning of fall quarter.

According to UCLA Fire Marshal Gary Dunger, many of the delays
are because of La Cucina’s own tardiness.

"It’s out of control," Dunger said. "Just the plan review
process was extraordinary."

According to Dunger, it took months before La Cucina’s design
team responded to his comments on construction plans. The process
normally takes a few weeks.

"Getting them going took forever," he said. After the last fire
inspection, it was determined that the ventilation hoods over La
Cucina’s ranges and ovens were not sufficiently venting the
area.

Dunger commented that the most recent inspection revealed that
the vents were sufficiently exhausting air out, but were not moving
enough air into the area to replace it.

"I thought (La Cucina) was done last week," Dunger said. "The
exhaust was perfect, but when I asked them about makeup air, they
said it wasn’t adequate."

La Cucina officials could not be reached for comment.

This air pressure deficit, resulting from inadequate makeup air,
creates a fire hazard. "In the most severe cases, exit doors don’t
open," Dunger said.

Although the problem is not that severe in the case of La
Cucina, the existing vacuum could cause fire and smoke in other
parts of Ackerman Union to migrate to the area.

According to association officials, the required changes involve
ordering and installing new ducts and a fan from the interior of
the building to the exterior.

"(Further construction) should have no impact on other
operations," said Terence Hsiao,

Associated Students of UCLA business development director.

La Cucina was originally scheduled to open concurrently with
neighboring Rubio’s Baja Grill. According to Dunger, there was also
a ventilation issue with Rubio’s for a short period of time several
weeks ago.

Rubio’s, which shares its ventilation ducts with La Cucina, was
not moving enough air through the system as a result of La Cucina’s
construction. The problem was soon fixed.

A lack of ventilation could result in the accumulation of
volatile grease-laden vapors.

"It was just a little low," Dunger said. "(And) it was for such
a short period of time, it was not a significant hazard."

Code compliance problems have caused the opening date to be
pushed back twice since then. According to ASUCLA officials, there
is no set opening date for the restaurant.

"Basically, they will open the day after the fire marshal
approves it," Hsiao said. "There are a few minor punch list items
(after the ducts) – for example, lowering the height of one
sprinkler head by an inch – but I believe this will be it."

According to Dunger and association officials, it may be weeks
before the ductwork is complete for inspection.

As of Monday afternoon, plans for installation of the new vents
had not been given to the fire marshal for approval. Without
approval, La Cucina cannot continue construction.

Dunger had expected the plans since Friday and was prepared to
approve the plans that day if they came in.

"This has been a difficult process," Hsiao said. "But we are
continuing to work together to open the restaurant to serve the
UCLA community."

"The delay is certainly creating potential service and variety
issues on campus, but from a financial perspective the association
is not being hurt," ASUCLA Executive Director Patricia Eastman
added. "La Cucina’s capital investment is a tremendous plus for the
university."

In its contract with ASUCLA, La Cucina agreed to renovate the
space formerly occupied by the Treehouse, saving the association
construction costs.

Since October, the restaurant was projected to contribute
$13,000 monthly to ASUCLA’s budget during the academic year. None
of these revenues have been realized because of its delayed
opening.

According to association officials, most of this money is being
made up by better than projected sales in the Cooperage.NICOLE
MILLER

La Cucina continues to face delays because of insufficient
ventilation in the kitchen.

Comments, feedback, problems?

© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]