UPDATE: New gym floor fails

Talk about it

New Richmond High School’s new gymnasium didn’t meet expectations and it cracked under the pressure — literally.

“They were unloading pallets of wood for the floor and actually broke through the concrete,” said Morrie Veilleux, district administrator. “Well, they didn’t actually break through ... it cracked and crumbled.”

It turns out the concrete slab that was supposed to be anywhere from 4-6 inches thick was only 1 1/2 inches thick in some areas.

“It wasn’t poured to specs so they’re going to have to take it out and replace it,” Veilleux said.

According to specs, the 19,000-square-foot concrete floor was supposed to 6 inches thick under the bleachers and 4 inches thick on the playing floor.

After testing, engineers found the floor was actually 5 inches thick under the bleachers and 1 1/2-3 inches thick on the playing floor.

“We’re sure not happy by any means,” Veilleux said. “But they’re going to make it right. If anything we still have some of their money from the contract and we have their bonds. That’s why you have that sort of thing.”

While replacing the floor is certainly a hiccup in the construction of the new gymnasium, it won’t push the project behind, Veilleux said.

“They’re going to use a special mix ... it’s actually the same concrete mix they used at Williams Arena (University of Minnesota) when that floor was replaced,” Veilleux said. “It should be dry and ready to go in 30, 31, 32 days.”

The gym floors must be completed by July 2, he said. That’s when the district’s summer basketball camps begin.

Engineers were busy inspecting the floors Monday. On Tuesday, officials planned to remove the wood flooring in preparation of the concrete being replaced.

The flooring will be shipped back to the manufacturer to protect it while the concrete slab is being replaced, Veilleux said. When the concrete is finished, the wood will be shipped again to New Richmond.

“And that’s going to be at a cost to (Hanson Masonry and Concrete of Owen),” Veilleux said. “It’s not at our cost, I can tell you that.”

“We caught it before they had to tear up any wood flooring,” he said.

Wood floors have been installed in the school’s new wrestling room and engineers are working to make sure that floor was poured to specification as well.

“We’re working with our engineers to make sure it’s right,” Veilleux said. “They’re in there today (Monday) doing random testing to make sure everything in the building is to spec.”

Veilleux said the flooring in the entire school was spot checked by engineers on Monday and now the district is waiting to hear the results of the tests.

Tags: new richmond schools, local news, news, education