An engineer investigating the damage at the new Chavrei Hakollel building following the floor collapse, has informed the Kollel that no part of the building can be used until the structure is fixed, Chavrei Hakollel’s Dean, R’ Simcha Greenwald tells TLS. The Kollel was hoping to use part of the building after the floor of the main Bais Medrash caved in, but the entire structure was deemed unsafe to use until the building is reconstructed.
There is no word yet on the cost of project, and no word on when it will be corrected.
The floor caved in last Sunday during a Hachnosas Seffer Torah celebration, and the building was evacuated.
Its a real shame! The same inspection department that causes untold trouble to everybody, gave a CO to this building. In this case it would have benifitted all to know that the structure was unsafe. The kollel really need our support!
Please repost donation link on this page!
Don’t bame the inspections dept. For this
Why are you blaming the inspection dept? They took an architect that designed the building as a “study hall”,you know the type you have in Rutgers….where you can hear a pin drop. He did not know that our “study halls” are used for various functions throughout the year. This seems to have been a simple yet VERY costly mistake. Next time use a heimishe architect. There are plenty of them.
As a long time supporter of the chavrei hakollel activities and a donor to this building, I feel that we deserve an explanation from the hanholla as to what went wrong. It is virtually impossible that a building should be rendered inhabitable and unsafe, if there are no inherent flaws in the design/construction of the structure. Someone needs to be held accountable for this disaster. An external investigation is in order. If it was designed in an unsafe manner then the engineer/architect should be held responsible. If the contractor used materials other than what is called for in the plans then he should be held responsible. These firms all carry insurance and it would be inexcusable for the kollel to request donations from the tzibbur when the insurance carriers should cover it. Also, a big question is that this plan was approved by the township engineer department and there are inspections throught the construction. These inspectors should be questioned as to their role in the disaster.
We, the supporters deserve answers.
yes i will blame Lakewoods inspection dept that is there job and they screwed up, fire all off them!!!!!!!!!! someone needs to take accountability in this town! only what they want goes? now its payback!
Doesn’t the LW Township have engineers that review the plans prior to construction? Or do they merely rubber stamp what is submitted?
Saw the damage. Mind boggling that it could have been approved. Some structural engineer, and/or the architect did a very shoddy if not down right negligent job on this building.
Or perhaps someone cut corners big time! Either way, the LW Township inspectors flubbed big time on this!
“Study hall” like in Rutgers would need way better structurals than this building has.
Building don’t just collapse like this. Structural engineering is a science with formulas etc. Someone messed up BIG TIME! Question is – who is gonna be left holding the bag?
Absent a miracle, I can’t see the Kollel surviving this disaster.
Even if they hired an architect to design a study hall, that doesn’t absolve LW Township engineering inspectors who do know what a study hall is supposed to be!
even a study hall should not have collapsed
#8 I think you may be right and now they are paying for it big time. It don’t cost 2.8 mil and collapse.
How many more such tickin’ timebombs were approved by LW Inspections? How many other supporting walls were removed after the C. O. Was issued? I’m not going to any more indoor hachnosas sefer Torahs in Lakewood NJ. Nor will my kids.
inspection dept only checks to see if you did what your architect and engineer drew up and they check to see if they are licencesd unless you come to zoning or planning board then the twp engineer look at the plans on behalf of the boards and yet every builder in town is complaing why do we need an engineer to look at the plans (it adds expense)
imagine if an outside engineer had to look at every set of plans submmited to twnp that would be expensive
The residual effect of an accident of this nature is that the relatively minute internal stress lines will likely blossom into full blown fractures.
Why is Simcha the only one holding up the fort? Yishai, Beenu, Chai – we need you!!!
why did you not include my comment?
before you condemn the inspection dept the builder and the architect, remember the architect designs the building to your intended use. the builder uses the materials to build according to code and the inspection department is there to make sure that all is as it should be. Now if you build a baseball field and want to play ice hockey on it who’s fault is it you can’t play hockey? if you told the architect you wanted a study room for 50 people and after it was built decided to hold a dance with 200 people who’s fault is it? i see here everyone yell sue, but can you, if you lied to the architect. no matter what this case could be interesting to follow.
the square footage of the beis medrash is designed to hold way more than 50 people. also, this should have a design to hold alot more weight than it actually does. when designers build a bridge they put on the absolute maximum amount of weight and throw in a few rumbels too. so what is the response? 3,000,000.00 to the garbage? who will be responsible for this mortgage? people signed personally on this building.
WE WANT ANSWERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The kollel honored Mr Singer and his family. I am sure he will work hard to help them in their time of need.
What a shame so much time and money invested and then this to happen. It doesn’t make cense on hakodosh baruch hue has a chesbon we don’t know what it is but we have to try to better ourselves son that this dose not happen again and next time it can be 10 times worse.
What in the world does Mr. Singer have to do with this? They need professional help.
I sure hope they have incurance after spending sooo much on that building
#22,
Did YOU sign on this building? If not, let those who did take this matter up with the Hanhala of Chavrei HaKollel privately.
Maybe there is a deeper meaning to the comment you are responding to as it regards this tragedy
“to anonymous2u says:
November 7, 2010 at 9:53 am
before you condemn the inspection dept the builder and the architect, remember the architect designs the building to your intended use. the builder uses the materials to build according to code and the inspection department is there to make sure that all is as it should be. Now if you build a baseball field and want to play ice hockey on it who’s fault is it you can’t play hockey? if you told the architect you wanted a study room for 50 people and after it was built decided to hold a dance with 200 people who’s fault is it? i see here everyone yell sue, but can you, if you lied to the architect. no matter what this case could be interesting to follow.”
Very good point ,I too thought at first the inspection department was negligant here but they very well might not be the case especially if any modifications were made to the structure that were not approved
to figure out if someone removed some main beAMS IS VERY SIMPLE TO FIGURE OUT. look at the plans . either someone removed them or not . why speculate?
to Joe,
cuz the speculators dont have the plans!
or check the surveillance cameras.
are ther surveillance camers?
Wow! Another great point for speculation.
So, when you finish speculating about the plans, you have your next speculation waiting.
When you finish, with the camera speculation, you can start the security guard speculationss.
I think, I gave enough thoughts for now.