3 Companies Responsible for School Mold, Report Says
Posted by Webmaster on 05/04/07

By ANDREW CANGIANO of The Coaster

The New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation has said three companies involved in the construction of the Midtown Community School in Neptune will be held responsible for the remediation of the mold found in the unfinished school.

The mold was found in walls on all three of the school’s floors.

NJSCC said they plan to demolish portions of the school and following proper remediation, to rebuild the school’s brick facades.

In a public meeting late last month, Jerry Murphy, Chief Operating Officer for the SCC, said that the school’s opening, originally scheduled for fall of 2007, will be delayed until fall 2008.

The project, which to date has cost nearly $42 million dollars, will require $5-10 million of additional funding, Murphy said at the time.

In a letter regarding the preliminary findings, SCC officials said they will hold the other three parties involved in the construction of the elementary school responsible for the cost of remediation and reconstruction.

SSP Architectural Group, Turner Construction Company and Gilbane Building Company will be held responsible, as the SCC indicated in its letter its “intent to recover all of its costs and damages.”

The SCC said it hopes the costs and responsibility can be sorted out through mediation between all of the parties, rather than through costly litigation.

Resolution Management Consultants, H.J. Cannon Group, and Hilmann Environmental Group aided in the preparation of the preliminary report.

A report said that a series of problems contributed to the growth of mold in the gypsum sheathing which made up part of the interior walls.

“Specifically, unspecified and unapproved sheathing material, as well as concerns regarding its handling, storage and sequence and timing of installation contributed to the growth of mold,” the report said.

“The exterior sheathing is a gypsum product with a treated core to withstand moisture…The sheathing, when subjected to exposure and weather beyond a specified time, can be damaged.”

Investigations revealed that as early as November of 2006, a mold presence was apparent, although the SCC was not immediately notified.

The SCC has rejected the option of cleaning visible mold and encapsulating remaining mold at the recommendation of Hilmann.