Repairs Begin After High School Gym Roof Collapses

A support beam at an auxiliary gym at Thurston High School in Springfield, Ore., collapsed on Wednesday under heavy snows, leading to the collapse of the building’s roof on Friday.

Nobody was hurt, but the Springfield School Board declared an emergency to allow the repair process to unfold more quickly, according to KEZI.

A demolition and repair process has already begun.

“The roof structure that collapsed yesterday was dangling off the next beam in,” said Jeff Emmett, whose construction firm is working on the building. “As soon as we put the bucket on those outside walls, it collapsed. It was a very precarious situation, very unsafe.”

Since the collapse, the district had all other campus buildings assessed and none were found to have any issues.

Jenna McCulley, an official with Springfield Public Schools, said that insurance will cover most of the damages caused by the collapse, and that repairs won’t be more than $25,000.

She said that the goal is to have a functioning gym facility completed by the fall.

Oregon isn't the only state to suffer heavy, roof-damaging snows. TV station WSAW reports that the Waupaca (Wis.) School District is seeking alternative hosts for spring sports practices after its high school gym was closed because of a damaged gym roof. 

Waupaca's gym is closed for precautionary reasons, but trusses were damaged and repairs will be required. Meanwhile, the high school is meeting with other schools and a local recreation center to try to find backup practice space.