Richmond BizSense has an article on St.Andrews’s renovation and recovery from fire. Here’s an excerpt:
St. Andrews School has wrapped up renovations of its 114-year-old building at 227 S. Cherry St. and reopened for classes Sept. 28 – a few weeks later than originally planned because of a fire in one of its new air conditioning units in late August.
It took a while to clear away the smoke and water damage and ensure the remaining units were safe, said Michelle Rosman, the school’s director of marketing and communications. But once doors finally opened, this year’s 97 students were welcomed into a clean, cool building, with a new HVAC system, buffed floors that removed years of wear and new plaster walls made to match the historic construction.
The work on the building largely consisted of repairing damage to the roof and gutters, both of which were very old and allowed water to seep into the school.
The renovations were fueled by a $1.2 million fundraising campaign completed last year and pro bono contracting work from The Monument Cos. The school surpassed its goal by about $300,000, which allowed it to not only pay for the construction work, but to purchase brand new furniture and ensure each classroom has up-to-date technology, as well.