Architect 2016-09-12Rogers Hall Fire Damage
September 12, 2016
Thomas Douglas Architects
General:
Rogers Hall at the former Clarke School for the Deaf suffered a major fire on the night of
August 5, 2016. The building was undergoing significant renovations and was
approximately 60% complete. Hubbard Hall, immediately adjacent and connected to
Rogers, was 100% complete and partially occupied. Both structures were conversions
of classroom/office/dorms to multi-dwelling unit apartments. Thomas Douglas
Architects are the architect of record for Rogers Hall and a consulting architect for
Hubbard Hall.
The condition of all structural elements within Rogers including steel beams/columns
and brick walls is unknown without extensive structural testing throughout the entire
building. Because of debris and missing floors, access to all of the areas requiring testing
is extremely limited.
Many areas of floor are damaged and need to be replaced. Extensive shoring of the brick
walls needs to be done to insure that the walls do not collapse when the damaged floor
areas are removed and replaced.
The brick walls are open to the elements now. The existing brick construction has two
outer wythes of brick with an inner core that is partially filled with debris and
connecting header brick. Rain and snow can easily enter this wall cavity and inundate
the entire wall. Once freezing conditions occur, the water will freeze within the wall
cavity, expand, and severely compromise the structural stability of these walls. They
will then be subject to collapse.
It is our opinion that the walls cannot be made watertight before freezing conditions
occur in the coming 2016 fall/2017 winter. The design and construction work required
to make the walls watertight cannot be completed in this limited time period.
Rogers Roof
98% of the roof and structure was consumed by fire and collapsed or is missing.
Rogers Third floor
100% of this floor suffered extensive direct fire damage.
Doors and windows are all destroyed.
Roof and large brick chimneys collapsed on the floor deck causing extensive structural
damage.
Fire burned thru 50% of floor deck.
Brick walls are all damaged beyond repair by falling structure, exposure to flames,
extreme temperatures, falling debris, and massive water intrusion. Condition is
unknown with out extensive structural testing. Cracks are evident throughout the 3rd
floor areas. These brick walls are beyond repair and should be removed.
Many areas of the floor collapsed due to the Roof and chimney falling onto it.
The remaining floors are not salvageable. They are badly damaged, and provide no
seismic support to the exterior brick walls.
Rogers Second floor
Many areas sustained damage from collapsing floor above and flaming timbers falling
down stairs and igniting surrounding walls and floors.
Fire collapsed into 2 stairs causing damage to adjacent floor and exterior brick walls on
all 4 floors.
Brick walls were exposed to flames, extreme temperatures, falling debris, burning of
pocketed floor structure and massive water intrusion. Condition is unknown without
extensive structural testing. Cracks are evident throughout the 2nd floor wall areas.
Many doors and windows are destroyed.
The exterior porch was extensively damaged.
New wood structural beams and columns damaged throughout by fire.
Existing steel structural beams were exposed to flames, extreme temperatures, falling
debris. Condition is unknown with out extensive structural testing.
Most floor decking is buckled and smoke damaged- soot and water have penetrated all
wood floors and decking. The floors are not salvageable, are badly damaged, and
provide limited seismic support to the exterior brick walls.
Metal stud walls have buckled in many places where falling debris struck them.
Rogers First floor
This floor suffered extensive water and smoke damage throughout.
Fire collapsed into 3 stairs causing damage to adjacent floor and exterior brick walls on
within first floor areas.
Brick walls were exposed to flames, extreme temperatures, falling debris, burning of
pocketed floor structure and massive water intrusion. Condition is unknown with out
extensive structural testing. Cracks are evident throughout the 2nd floor areas.
New wood structural beams and columns damaged throughout by water and extreme
temperatures.
Existing steel structural beams were exposed to flames, extreme temperatures, falling
debris. Condition is unknown with out extensive structural testing.
The exterior porch was extensively damaged.
Most floor decking is buckled and smoke damaged and is not salvageable.
Metal stud walls have buckled in limited places where falling debris struck them.
Many doors and windows are destroyed.
Most floor decking is buckled and smoke damaged- soot and water have penetrated all
wood floors and decking. The floors are not salvageable, are badly damaged, and
provide limited seismic support to the exterior brick walls.
Rogers Basement floor
This floor suffered extensive water and smoke damage throughout.
Fire collapsed into 2 stairs causing damage to adjacent floor and exterior brick walls on
within first floor areas.
Brick walls on were exposed to massive water intrusion. Condition is unknown without
extensive structural testing. Cracks are evident in limited areas.
Many doors and windows are destroyed.
New wood structural beams and columns damaged throughout by water.
The concrete floor slab was exposed to massive amounts of water and was submerged.
The exterior porch was extensively damaged.
Metal stud walls have buckled in limited places where falling debris struck them.
Rogers Building systems:
All wiring systems in the building are damaged beyond repair.
All plumbing systems in the building are damaged beyond repair.
All HVAC systems in the building are damaged beyond repair.
All sprinkler systems in the building are damaged beyond repair.
Hubbard:
The elevator is damaged. Its operability is unknown.
Wiring, flooring, wall finishes, kitchens and hallways are extensively water damaged.