<p>Flaws in the original construction were the cause of a mishap at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center when a section of porch roof collapsed Wednesday morning while workmen were repairing windows, the hospital said.</p> <p>No one was injured in the accident.</p>
Flaws in the original construction were the cause of a mishap at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center when a section of porch roof collapsed Wednesday morning while workmen were repairing windows, the hospital said.
No one was injured in the accident.
Martha's Vineyard Hospital president and chief executive officer Timothy Walsh said the Oak Bluffs building inspector came and the hospital brought in a structural engineer to inspect the damage following the accident. "They said the original construction was not done correctly," Mr. Walsh told the Gazette in an email. "We are now going to inspect all the porch roofs and rebuild or tear down anything with a problem. Luckily no one was hurt."
According to hospital administrator Ken Chisholm, workmen from Columbia Construction were standing on the porch roof in order to replace second-story windows when a 10 by 12-foot section of the roof separated from the side of the building and collapsed. The workers were able to hold onto the window and avoid injury, he said.
No Windemere residents or employees were nearby at the time of the incident.
"No one was at risk, nobody was out on the deck," Mr. Chisholm said.
As the roof came down it took out part of the fire sprinkler system, flooding two rooms and resulting in water damage. The area was cleaned up by 1:30 p.m., Mr. Chisholm said.
The ongoing window repair to the building is part of an extensive $3 million renovation that began in April and is due to be completed in September.
The facility was opened on the hospital campus in 1994, following years of financing and construction setbacks. According to Gazette archives, the building was designed by Facility Design and Management of Andover, and built by general contractor Congress Construction Company of Danvers, which also built the West Tisbury School addition.
In a February interview with the Gazette, Mr. Chisholm said the building has not weathered the test of time and was in need of a complete external overhaul. All windows, sidings, outside doors and decking would be replaced, he said.
The roof collapse this week "underscores the building was in dire need of renovation," Mr. Chisholm said. "This is something we will be evaluating on what needs to be done.
The repair work is being completed by Columbia Construction, which also built the new Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
Comments
Please tell us who the
mira.postPlease tell us who the contractor was on the original project.
right mira.......good thing
kerritt TIS . MA.right mira.......good thing the mvt had some pictures showing the dammage....
The same one that did the Oak
John Gault Oak BluffsThe same one that did the Oak Bluffs Library that is now already falling apart. Just look at the trim and shakes they are already falling apart.And we are not even talking about the HVAC that is already being replaced.We have the talent and man power HERE on the Vineyard to do the work but they don't because the STATE demands that pay HIGH union wages and the shoddy work that goes with it. Simple put you can't make any money if you pay high wages because you then will need to cut back on the quality of the materials being used.
I may be wrong, but I do not
Bruce Stone EdgartownI may be wrong, but I do not believe Windemere (or the Hospital, for that matter) were public projects with state building requirements. Aren't they private, non-profit entities?
No doubt it was built by the
John EdgartownNo doubt it was built by the low bidder, whoever that was. That's not always the wisest choice. It is possible that the engineering of the roof system was faulty, but any reputable roofing contractor should have at least questioned the design. If the design was not faulty, then you have to question the materials used and the workmanship. Did they meet specifications? Once again, it is the engineer's responsibility to make certain that the roof is being installed according to his design. And local regulators, like the building inspector and the clerk for the project have their responsibilities as well to protect the project's integrity.
LET US BUILDERS BUILD-HERE-
kerritt TIS . MA.LET US BUILDERS BUILD-HERE- WE LIVE HERE AND KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO BUILD IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.STOP GOING OFF ISLAND FOR THE 'CHEEP' BIDS.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
AND GET A KNOWLEDGEABLE INSPECTOR!!
I remember when Windemere was
Patty Codding Tisbury, MAI remember when Windemere was being built, and at the time I noted that green wood was being used. Green wood needs to be dried before it is used so that it is hardened . When paint is put on green wood the wood will rot. Who was managing this project? Where is the accountability? Why do we always choose the lowest bidder? Why not hire an island company that may cost a little more but has a commitment to the community and a reason to build the best possible building = one their family members might live in?
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