During the first evening of winter break on December 19th, a significant structural incident occurred at our school. At 10:50 p.m., during a snowfall, a contracted snow removal service driver accidentally collided with one of the support columns near the pavilion entrance. This impact caused the column to detach completely from its foundation and the canopy roof decking. As a result, two 8,000-pound concrete arches, which the column had been supporting, collapsed. Fortunately, the driver managed to avoid injury.
The collapse also caused a 40-foot canopy section to partially give way, making the area hazardous for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Reacting swiftly, the school’s facilities team immediately contacted a structural engineer and a scaffolding company to assess the situation. The area was quickly barricaded to ensure the safety of students and staff during winter athletics practices and other activities scheduled over the break. By Friday, January 3rd, all “make safe” work was completed, allowing classes and building activities to resume on January 6th.
Estimates for the full repair of the damage exceed $1.2 million. The repair process could begin as early as this week, pending the results of a scan of the beams and confirmation of material availability. Once permits are secured and materials are on-site, the repairs are expected to take about two weeks to complete.
Our facilities team continues to monitor the situation and will provide further updates as the project progresses.