Structural issue temporarily closes Hamburg School’s 1900 Building, which houses superintendent’s and business offices
HAMBURG BOROUGH, NJ (Sussex County) — In a message sent to the Hamburg community on Sunday, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Sigman provided an important update on the window replacement project at the Hamburg School’s 1900 Building, which houses the district’s Superintendent’s Office and Business Office.
The building, located next to the primary school and connected by a covered awning, sustained window damage during a May 2024 microburst. Replacement work began over Spring Break, but during removal of the original window framework, an unexpected structural compromise occurred in a lower-level room. This caused visible bowing of the brick façade, raising safety concerns.
As a precaution, the 1900 Building has been temporarily closed and deemed unsafe for occupancy. The Superintendent’s and Business Offices have been relocated to the primary school building. No classrooms or student learning spaces have been affected.
A structural engineer and the district’s architect visited the site last Wednesday. While the engineer confirmed there is no danger of collapse, the potential hazard of falling bricks led to the installation of a protective safety fence around the affected area.
Further recommendations from the architect are expected in the coming weeks. In the meantime, crews will begin securing open window spaces to prevent additional damage.
The district says it remains committed to safety and transparency and will continue to share updates as they become available.
