Back to the BYU Cougars Newsfeed

Ogden elementary school vulnerable to earthquake, firms find

Related Topics: Elementary school, Earthquake

The Standard-Examiner reported Friday the Ogden School District is deciding whether to tear down and rebuild Polk Elementary School or upgrade it to meet current seismic standards.

Engineers say the weaknesses include unreinforced masonry walls that are not properly braced to the floor or roof.

They estimate it would cost about $18 million to renovate the school and build an expansion requested by the school board. A new building, meanwhile, is estimated at $18.2 million. Those typically have a longer life expectancy than renovated structures.