Vestal Elementary School at 161 NE 82nd Avenue is several feet shorter after crews began work on a roof-replacement project that includes removing its decommissioned boiler brick chimney. The $3.6 million project includes updates to fall protection equipment, roof lighting, mechanical systems, and some seismic improvements to select unreinforced masonry walls in the building.
Demolition crews have removed most of the square brick chimney atop the Portland Public School (PPS) building, sending debris down the black plastic chute affixed to the scaffolding erected around the once-towering structure. They will take it down to approximately parapet height. Then they will replace the full roof surface that has leaked into the rooms below over the years. The project scope includes water damage repairs to ceilings and walls.
Workers will install interior and exterior ship ladders to reorient roof access, replacing roof hatches and guardrails. Crews will remove and replace some skylights and upgrade gym windows. The kitchen on the main level and second-floor bathrooms will see enhancements. Three detached portable buildings will similarly receive new roofs to prolong their lifespan as expanded student instruction space.
Project planners anticipate the summertime renovation activity will extend into the next school year, ending in the latter portion of 2026. The campus is currently closed during construction, but will reopen for classes with the remaining work occurring outside of school hours. They expect minimal disruption to educational activities during the upcoming school year.
Voter-approved bond funds from 2017 support these PPS roof replacements, which are designed to create seismic resiliency by improving bracing, strengthening roof decks, and enhancing roof-to-wall connections. However, the renovations underway this summer will not bring all unreinforced masonry buildings like Vestal entirely into compliance with current seismic code requirements. The updates in the package of work should reduce the cost of future seismic work needed to avoid significant structural failure in a large earthquake. People can expect to see more activity at the site over the next few months, and students returning may encounter some unfinished projects as crews wrap up the updates by Fall 2026.
Vestal brick chimney demolition video courtesy Weston Ruter
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