In August 2024, during move-in for the 2024–2025 academic year, our undergraduate members discovered extensive water damage throughout the Sigma Pi house at Cornell. Several resident bedrooms and other key areas of the home were affected due to undetected slow leaks within concealed plumbing lines. What followed was a significant chapter in our house’s history, a months-long effort to restore, repair, and upgrade our beloved home.
The Sigma Pi alumni board, in collaboration with many trusted vendor partners, took swift action to identify the source of the water intrusion. Immediate remediation and demolition of the impacted areas were conducted to prevent further damage. Despite best efforts to keep the house operational during this process, the City of Ithaca ultimately required the house to be closed until repairs could be completed safely and to code.
The result was a six-month construction and renovation project that touched nearly every part of the house: most notably five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and several shared spaces. The scope and scale of this effort were significant, and the following provides an overview of the major work completed.
Key Repairs and Renovations
- Ventilation: All bathroom fans were replaced or repaired. New ductwork and improved airflow systems were installed, particularly in the basement. The board continues to explore long-term HVAC upgrades.
- Plumbing: A major discovery was the poor condition of the main plumbing stack, which required full replacement, adding both time and cost.
- Bedrooms: Water-damaged ceilings, walls, and floors were repaired, with new paint and flooring installed as needed.
- Structural Work: Reinforcements started in summer 2024 were completed, including repairs to interior doors, fire safety systems, and structural framing.
- Exterior: Roof and front porch repairs were made to prevent future water intrusion.
- Bedrooms 19 & 20: Floors replaced, walls repainted, drywall removed and reinstalled with water-resistant materials, and closets repaired.
- Basement Bathroom: Fully gutted and rebuilt with new waterproofing, ventilation, tile, fixtures, and privacy partitions.
- Laundry Room: Repaired and painted; dryer vents were brought up to code.
- Grotto, Pit, & Dining Room: Addressed all water-damaged areas and repainted.
- Group Bathroom: Complete overhaul of showers with waterproofing, new tile, fixtures, ventilation, paint, and privacy upgrades.
- Bedrooms & Library: All affected areas repaired and repainted; structural work completed in hallway corridors.
- Group Bathroom: Same as first floor, completely gutted and rebuilt with new tile flooring throughout.
- Bedroom 209: Added structural supports, repaired drywall, and repainted.
- Group Bathroom: Full rebuild of shower areas with waterproofing, new tile, and fixtures.
- Bedroom 309: Water-damaged walls and floors repaired, with new paint and flooring installed.
While the summary above captures the bulk of the work completed, it does not encompass every detail. The board directed the contractors to ensure all repairs met the highest standards of quality and durability. Unfortunately, many hidden issues, ranging from prior faulty repairs to the natural wear of an aging structure, added considerable time and cost to the project.
We are incredibly grateful to the board members and alumni who brought their construction expertise to this massive undertaking. Many volunteered countless hours (some on-site) to oversee progress, to coordinate solutions, and to advocate for the best outcomes on behalf of our brotherhood.
Their tireless efforts helped ensure that the Sigma Pi house will continue to serve the next generation of Cornell Sigma Pi men. Though this recovery was unexpected and at times challenging, it reinforced what makes our brotherhood so strong: our commitment to each other and to the home that has meant so much to us all.
