Update: April 22 2024
After navigating the intricacies of insurance claims, work has begun on the closed areas! Fresh paint is hitting the walls of NECC, and we look forward to the closed spaces reopening soon after repairs are completed. Thank you for your patience.
The original closures remain in effect. Check back here for the latest updates.
Update: February 23 2024
Great news! The NECC is officially dry! Our contractors confirmed Tuesday that moisture levels had dropped, and have removed all their fans and dehumidifiers.
While we are relieved to announce that the drying process is complete, there is still work to be done before we can fully reopen the closed areas. Unfortunately, due to the high demand for similar work following the recent storm, we won’t be able to start repairs until next week. Please rest assured that we are working as fast as we can to get things back to normal.
The original closures remain in effect. Check back here for the latest updates. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Update: February 9, 2024
Our contractors stopped by today to take moisture measurements of the affected areas and we’re delighted to say they’ve made great progress! The majority of each affected space has dried out to an acceptable moisture level, but some stubborn areas still remain meaning no one area has dried completely. They will return early next week to check on progress and try some new techniques.
Please be aware that even once everywhere has dried, there will be additional repair work required before we are able to return to normal operations.
The original closures remain in effect. Check back here for the latest updates.
Update: January 30, 2024
Efforts to remediate the areas impacted by the flooding are still underway and once we receive updates from our contractors, we’ll be able to offer more detailed information on our progress and the expected reopening of closed areas.
Keep an eye out for these updates, as we’ll be sharing them on this page as well as our Facebook, and Instagram pages. Your continued support and understanding during this time are greatly appreciated.
Update: January 20, 2024
We hope this message finds you safe and warm! This storm has hit Portland hard, and like many local organizations and businesses, the NECC has not emerged unscathed.
This week, frigid temperatures caused two heating coils in our building to freeze. One of these coils burst and caused flooding that stretched four floors from our attic down to the basement. Our team acted swiftly to contain the situation, but we are now faced with the aftermath.
Here’s what happened:
On Wednesday evening, a staff member went to check on the center and discovered a flood originating from a burst heating coil in the attic. The resulting flooding traveled down to each floor of the building. A remediation contractor has been onsite the last two days and is hopeful that we will be able to dry out the walls and ceilings with minimal disruption to the building and our programs. We are also in conversation with our HVAC contractor to repair the broken coil and make sure the system is operable in the meantime.
What you can expect:
We hope to open again on Monday, January 22nd. When we reopen, be aware that the remediation process will still be underway. Expect to see and hear fans and dehumidifiers throughout the facility as they dry our walls from the inside out.
Temporary Room Closures: Our programming will be minimally impacted by these repairs, but some areas of the facility will be temporarily closed. We expect these areas to be the north stairwell, women’s locker room, core workout room, and men’s sauna. We ask participants who typically use the women’s locker room to use the universal locker room until repairs are completed.
Pool Temperature: The cold temperatures also caused the coil that heats our pool deck to malfunction. This means that while our pool water remains warm, the air on the pool deck will be colder than usual while we repair the coil. You can monitor the temperature of the pool water and the surrounding room from your home by clicking here.
The safety of our community is our top priority; we are dedicated to remediating all water damage, safeguarding both the well-being of our community and the longevity of our building. There is always a chance that more invasive remediation measures will need to be taken, which could lead to additional disruption. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to check our Website, Facebook, or Instagram for real-time updates and ways to support us.
As we reflect on the recent events, we are thankful that the damage wasn’t more severe, appreciative that we can anticipate reopening relatively quickly, and, most importantly, grateful for the support of our dedicated community. We wish you a safe, warm, and restful weekend and look forward to seeing you all soon.
