Is the HEJ building really in such bad shape?

Unfortunately, yes. Engineering studies in 2020 found a large list of repairs and renovations needed to bring the building up to modern building codes. These repairs included:

  • Total roof replacement, including some truss repair
  • Window and door replacements
  • Masonry repairs
  • Entrance/exit repairs to be compliant with ADA regulations
  • Elevator repairs
  • Building and site drainage repairs
  • Significant removal of asbestos and all other hazardous materials
  • New sprinkler system
  • Full mechanical and electrical system replacement
  • Significant structural reinforcements for required code and seismic improvements

To bring the HEJ School building into compliance with cur­rent building codes is estimated to cost $2.1+ million. This does not include costs to renovate the building for another use.