Selectmen last night favored start on work to secure walls of the fire-gutted third story of Norwood Junior High School South which are still standing after a section of the rear wall collapsed Thursday.
Architect’s Proposal
The local architectural firm of Korslund, LeNormand and Quann, Inc., which directed the construction of the temporary roof damaged by the falling debris, proposed a yoke-type arrangement to brace the walls.
Engineer for the firm, Arthur F. Chapin, said he contacted a steel company and has a cost estimate available for selectmen.
According to Town Manager Walter A. Blasenak, the insurance would reimburse the town for the job.
Building Inspector John E. Grover said he noticed after visual inspection of the building the wall on the Bond Street side, which fire department officials have expressed major concern about, was deflected outward more last night than the night before.
School committee members present last night decided to delay decision on any town meeting recommendation pending a further evaluation of damages and estimates of repair or a possible addition.
Mr. Chapin said he could assess extent of damages once debris has been removed within the next few days and should be ready to report to the school committee at its Wednesday meeting.
Partly Salvageable
The walls, he claimed, are partly salvageable from the third floor to the roof line.
If the building were rebuilt at slightly over the original $392,000 estimated before the wall collapsed, it would be as safe as it was before the recent fire, Harry J. Korslund claimed.
Mr. Korslund, asked what he felt should be done, recommended tearing down of remaining walls and construction of an addition.
He suggested that the town could build an addition which would not only supply the lost eight classrooms but facilities that were lacking in the original building as well.
The addition, he admitted, would cost about $150,000 more than reconstruction of the third floor, depending on what the school committee would want.
Possible remodeling of the junior high into an elementary school would be costly to the town, Mr. Korslund said.