A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Vern Uyetake / Lake Oswego Review
Though a leaky roof may be a pervasive problem, damage at Lake Oswego High School is noticeable in three places: The performing arts wing, the cafeteria and the science wing.
ADVERTISEMENTS
Lake Oswego High School, completed in 2005, is smart, modern and … leaking? Earlier this year a tile from one of the walls fell onto the roof and caught administrators’ attention.
In January, Lake Oswego School District officials called their attorney and had a contractor review the area. His deduction was that there was a problem with either the application of the tile or the material used.
“We have advised our legal counsel of the problem because we believe that it may involve either a latent construction defect or possibly a design defect or a combination thereof,” said financial director Stuart Ketzler. “Our legal counsel is inquiring as to what additional investigations are warranted and also noticing the parties that may be responsible.”
School district administrators actually discovered that water was infiltrating the building three years ago. The water has seeped over the wall between the cafeteria and the office. Two other places that have had noticeable damage are the performing arts wing and the science wing.
If the district attributes the damage to either a design error or a construction error, this will put it in the middle of more finger pointing with Robinson Construction, with which the district settled for $837,500 through dispute resolution, and LSW Architects, with which the district is seeking $5.5 million for breaches of contract.
The two claims are two of four total that are the result of cost overruns at both Lake Oswego and Lakeridge high schools and a shortened project list at the elementary schools. The projects were all a part of the $84 million facility improvement bond, which passed in 2000.
The district hopes to repair the damage this summer. Costs are speculative at this time and range from $200,000 to $600,000, said Ketzler.
@ Pete Phinney
That is just a blatant attempt at free advertising.
I can't imagine how much insurance companies are charging for someone that assumes risks on both sides of the coin (builder's insurance and errors and omissions), but you must be paying out the yazoo to be able to provide consultation in design and construction!
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 08:42 AM
Find a paper
Enter a street name
or a 5 digit zip code
Browse archive
The Lake Oswego Review
News feed
Facebook
Digg
Del.icio.us
Newsvine
Stumbleupon
Reddit
Re: That new LOHS roof has a problem
The design and construction defects in new schools (especially roof and or wall leak problems)in the United States has become a pot of gold for the attorneys - and it has to stop somewhere. I am trying my best to get the word out on prevention - but school districts don't know that they are heading over the cliff until its too late. I can correct the designs and construction that cause the leaks BEFORE AND DURING CONSTRUCTION - but not if a school district doesn't engage me before it is too late to provide prevention. When it is too late and the new building is leaking, I sit at the conference table on the side of the school district and help the district affix the problems to the proper parties. To get the design and construction people accountable is a tough battle and I have met with success - but not without a fight. Design and construction entities don't usually stand up and fix something unless they feel they are cornered and culpable. That's what I do for school districts - I stand in their corner and fight for what is right and hopefully get those responsible to fix it! I am pete@buildingexterior and I am ready to help you solve your new school building roof or wall leak problems!
"Pete Phinney"
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 04, 2009 at 04:10 PM