Exterior Gym Work at OGHS

🚨 EXTERIOR GYM WORK UPDATE AT OGHS 🚨
If you have driven past the Robert J. Hermiller Gymnasium this summer, you’ve probably wondered why the exterior brick on the west wall has been completely removed. 🧱
What started as a routine window leak project actually uncovered a chain reaction of hidden structural challenges. Here is a look behind the scenes at what we found and how we are fixing it to ensure our facility lasts another 60+ years!

🔍 What We Discovered

• The Initial Warning: In early 2025, routine window repairs revealed that the exterior brick was pulling away from the wall, sitting 2 to 2.5 inches out of level. A repair plan was put in place for Summer 2026 to avoid disrupting school and fall activities.
• Storm Damage: This past spring, powerful storms and high winds peeled back a large section of the gym's rubber roof. Because of a 1960s design flaw where the roofing material was connected directly to the exterior brick, the shifting roof pulled the wall even further out of level—to nearly 4 inches.
• Hidden Structural Issues: Removing the brick revealed that the original 1960s roof trusses were never properly bolted to the block wall. Additionally, the exterior block lacked insulation, had incomplete mortar joints, large voids, and improperly installed wall ties.

🛠️ The Fix & Progress

We took immediate action to expand the project and fix these issues properly:

• Structural Reinforcement: The top rows of the block wall have been replaced, and the roof trusses are now firmly and securely anchored to the block wall.
• Efficiency: Proper insulation has finally been installed inside the open cells of the block wall.
• Future Protection: We are extending the wall height to create a proper parapet wall. This will securely hold the roofing material and protect the eventual new roof from future high-wind exposure.

👏 A Big Thank You!

We would like to extend a massive thank you to Schroeder Masonry and Cotterman Roofing. Both companies have done an incredible job stepping up to handle these complex issues safely, efficiently, and correctly.
📸 We have attached a variety of photos below showcasing the exact issues uncovered by our crews, alongside the heavy repair work currently underway!

📞 Questions?

If you have any questions about this project or any other ongoing improvements in the district, please feel free to contact Don Horstman or Doug Trombley at the high school.
🏢 Central Office Phone: 419-523-5261
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