The project: Seismic rehabilitation of the Ontario High School gymnasium and locker rooms, located within a 1950s-era facility featuring a large barrel-vaulted roof.

The goal: Provide critical seismic upgrades to enhance the life safety performance of the gymnasium and locker rooms, while navigating strict budget constraints and addressing significant structural and environmental challenges.

Project features: The scope of work included seismic strengthening of the barrel-vault gym structure, rehabilitation of the locker rooms situated beneath the upper gym level, and targeted structural repairs to a deteriorating exterior concrete wall.

Design approach: IMEG served as the prime consultant, leading a multidisciplinary team through all phases of this project. Following initial cost overruns due to underestimated asbestos abatement needs, a second CM/GC was brought on board. This team worked closely with our team to refine the design approach and develop a more effective abatement strategy that aligned with the Oregon Department of Education’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (SRGP) budget.

The design team introduced a streamlined and constructible seismic strengthening solution tailored to the building’s structural constraints, while the CM/GC’s input helped inform critical cost and constructability decisions throughout the process.

Challenge and solution: One of the most significant challenges emerged during the discovery of extensive asbestos in the 18,500-sf roof. The initial CM/GC lacked experience with Oregon’s abatement regulations, leading to a mismatch between project scope and available funding. The replacement CM/GC collaborated with the design team to implement a more cost-effective and regulation-compliant approach to abatement, ultimately resulting in a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) that met budget targets and allowed the project to advance.

Another major concern involved a large east-facing concrete wall, which exhibited signs of water intrusion and rebar corrosion—issues that posed long-term structural risks. Our team recommended removing the damaged concrete and applying Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) to the exterior face of the wall. This method not only restored and strengthened the wall’s structural integrity but also created a permanent barrier against future moisture intrusion.

Project outcome: The strengthened facility now meets life safety seismic performance goals, while the upgraded exterior concrete wall improves both the longevity and resilience of the structure. This project serves as a strong example of how collaborative problem solving and technical expertise can overcome budget, regulatory, and structural challenges in critical school infrastructure upgrades.