On Friday, January 30, a portion of the stucco exterior façade above the Edison Elementary School entry collapsed due to water damage. Damage has not impacted any internal functions and the building remains safe for occupancy.

While the building remains safe, the front entrance of the school has been secured and is not accessible. Drop off and pick up have been rerouted to the north side of the school while repairs are completed.

The following page is updated any time there is new information. The most recent news is on top.

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March 20, 2026 -- Entry way re-opened for use

Temporary repairs to the front entrance at Edison Elementary School are complete and the entrance can be safely utilized by the public. Students will return to the original drop off and pick up plans using the front door.

The contractor removed the water damaged areas and loose stucco. They also rebuilt the area around the damage including temporary siding. The area has been re-sealed to prevent water from getting in. Work will continue this summer to install new siding, sheet metal, and new Edison signage.

 

 

Feb. 19, 2026 – Additional inspection results

Contractor: PCS Structural, structural engineer
Site visit: Feb. 6, 2026

The assessment attributes the failure of exterior stucco and soffit, and the wood deterioration to water intrusion. At this time, deterioration is believed to be localized and not extending into the main building structure.

The building remains safe for occupancy by students and staff but the main entrance will remain closed. Students, staff, and community should follow the temporary entrance/ exit guidance until construction is complete.

Structural Risk Assessment

• Current condition presents falling‑hazard risk from loosened or failing exterior finishes and compromised structural framing at the front overhang

Recommendations

• Rebuild the center portion of the front overhang to remove deteriorated framing.
• Reinforce the joists that support the facade to restore structural capacity.
• Remove adjacent finishes to eliminate falling hazards and allow further inspection of concealed framing.
• When replacing the roof, inspect roof plywood sheathing and replace any deteriorated panels encountered.
• Evaluate stucco and parapet cap systems at other locations for similar water‑intrusion risks.

 

 

Feb. 19, 2026 – Construction Schedule

Our construction team is working with contractors to repair the Edison façade as quickly as possible. This means the front of the school will remain an active construction area and will be off limits to students, staff, and families. Fencing will be installed around the construction area before work is done.

• Late February: Install fencing, demo existing stucco and remove rotten framing
• Early March: Frame new parapet wall and fix any rotten joists / blocking
• Mid-Late March: Install temporary siding, paint & flashing
• Summer 2026: Install new siding, sheet metal, and new Edison signage

 

Feb. 18, 2026 --- Inspection results

Contractor: Nexus, building envelope consultant
Site visits: Feb. 2 and 6, 2026

The assessment identifies significant water intrusion vulnerabilities and aging building envelope systems that present ongoing risk of further deterioration, interior damage, and additional exterior failures unless comprehensive repairs and replacements are implemented. Damage has not impacted any internal functions and the building remains safe for occupancy.

Key Findings

• The primary cause of the failure was long-term moisture intrusion resulting in deterioration of the wood framing.
• The building’s roofing systems are at or beyond their effective service life (approx. 28–29 years). The roof above the main entrance is believed to potentially contribute to the entrance wall damage.

Recommendations

• Full replacement of the wall behind the facade with metal or composite material.
• Incorporate a rainscreen drainage system and replace existing drainage and ventilation elements to prevent future damage.
• Full roof replacement.

 

Feb. 12, 2026 --- At the regularly scheduled board meeting, the Tacoma Schools Board of Directors approved an emergency declaration for building stucco and roof replacement at Edison. This resolution allows Planning & Construction to move forward with the procurement of the necessary services to replace the designated portion of the roof and the entire stucco and related envelope.

 

Feb. 11, 2026 --- Third-party contractors have completed inspections and preliminary results are below. A full report is forthcoming.

• The structural envelope inspection focused on the façade (the decorative front of the building) and connected material. It was performed by architect and building envelope consultant Nexus. While we await the final report, Nexus told us after the inspection that the façade and the immediate connected area do not pose a structural risk to the rest of the school building.
• There was a second inspection focusing on the structural integrity of the building performed by structural engineers PCS. While we await their final report, we were informed that the building is safe for occupancy.
• TPS also brought in SanAir Laboratory to perform air sampling on Feb. 2, 2026. The results were received from SanAir Laboratory on Feb. 5, 2026 and numerous areas in the school were tested. The results indicated low levels of particles/spores consistent with normal outdoor environmental conditions, and that particles present were likely being brought in from outside on shoes and clothing. No inherent risks were identified.

 

Feb. 4, 2026 --- On Friday, January 30, a portion of the stucco exterior façade above the Edison Elementary School entry collapsed. Our facilities team believes this was due to water damage.

A structural envelope inspection took place on Feb. 2, 2026. A third-party inspection is scheduled this week. Results are forthcoming and next steps will be determined based on inspections.

The front entrance of the school has been secured and is not accessible. Drop off and pick up have been rerouted to the north side of the school until repairs can be completed.