Farrington's auditorium roof collapsed in November 2012 after a short downpour, but a report released in late December determined the roof had a major design flaw, with a heavy concrete catwalk attached to the roof's second truss.

Over the years, added lights and other equipment, made matters worse.

The state found no other school had exactly the same design flaw, but buildings similar in age and shape must be re-inspected, too.

“It's one of the more heavily used auditoriums,” said Ron Okamura, McKinley High School principal.

The school’s rehearsal-filled auditorium is one of nine Hawaii facilities slated for a full inspection after Farrington’s disaster.

“This whole structure was made out of wood,” said Okamura, about McKinley’s auditorium, which was renovated about 15 years ago.

He said the structure is very sound and, as a precaution, they’ve been careful not to add to much lighting to the ceiling.

Before their latest renovation, he says bugs, not faulty trusses threatened to bring it down.

“They looked at the school as far as termites and dry rot damage and they really had to shore up upstairs,” he said.

PHOTOS: Farrington H.S. auditorium roof collapses

SHOW THUMBNAILS

Previous

Next