Fire Investigation for the Martin Luther King Jr. School Continues

Cambridge, MA—June 01, 2015 — As the investigation into the cause of the fire that damaged the Martin Luther King Jr. School continues, the City’s project team is assessing the damage to the building and creating a recovery plan that will allow for a September opening of the school.

“I want to thank the Cambridge Fire Department for the exceptional job that they did in stopping this fire, particularly given the windy conditions. Their efforts prevented us from having a catastrophic outcome,” said Richard C. Rossi, City Manager. “Our team, comprised of staff from the City and School Department, the architect, and the construction contractor are all working together to conduct a full analysis of the damage and what the estimated repair costs will be.”

The City expects the damage assessment to be completed by end of this week; however, the current rain pattern is slowing down the process. Because the City requires construction contractors to carry insurance, there will be no financial impact to the City for the damage caused by the fire. Any materials and equipment that were damaged or compromised by fire, smoke, or water will be replaced.

Even as the extensive testing of all building materials and finishes continues, progress is being made on keeping the project on track. New HVAC equipment and roofing materials have already been ordered and the construction company is evaluating the possibility of a double shift schedule to complete the work.

“Our contractor, Rich-Caulfield a Joint Venture, has committed to having the MLK Jr. School open by September,” said Rossi. “Although this is an unanticipated setback, I am confident that we have a strong team in place that will get the job done.”

Construction updates and information on the Martin Luther King Jr. School Construction project can be found at www.cambridgema.gov/mlkjrconstruction.

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About the Martin Luther King Jr. School Construction Project: The Martin Luther King Jr. construction project is a 187,00 square foot school that will be occupied by a pre-school, k-5 lower school, 6-8 upper school, afterschool programs, and Human Services programs. Each school and after school program will have their own distinct space within the building. There are separate lower and upper school gyms, separate pre-school play area, cafeteria seating 246 pupils, a 400 seat auditorium, upper and lower school learning commons, exterior play areas including a full size basketball court. The building roof and sun shades on the exterior elevations will have photovoltaic panels mounted on them to help minimize the cost of purchasing electrical power for the building as part of the NET ZERO design. The building features an underground garage and modifications to the surrounding sidewalks and roadways to make pickup and drop off of students safer.