Editor’s note: The first two floors of Newhouse 1 reopened Monday, Nov. 6.
The following message was sent to the Newhouse community on Friday, Nov. 3, at 4:52 p.m.
Dear Newhouse Students, Faculty and Staff,
I wanted to share a brief update before the end of the day about the status of Newhouse 1.
The first and second floors of Newhouse 1 will remain closed through the weekend as cleaning and remediation work continue following the small fire that started in a first-floor classroom currently undergoing renovation.
The fire caused some smoke damage, but I am thankful that is the extent of the impact following a thorough inspection by Public Safety and Campus Facilities. I want to also express my gratitude to the City of Syracuse Fire Department for their tireless efforts on Thursday night.
We expect the first and second floors of Newhouse 1 to reopen Monday. However, the rest of the Newhouse complex is open as usual, and Family Weekend events on Saturday are scheduled to take place as planned.
I know this may have been an unsettling situation for some members of our community, especially those who were here Thursday night. Please know that your well-being is top of mind, and the goal is to make sure we have a safe and conducive learning environment for all on Monday.
If plans change for the reopening on Monday of the first and second floors of Newhouse 1, we will notify affected students, faculty and staff as soon as possible over the weekend about alternative arrangements.
In the meantime, thank you again for your patience and understanding. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Dean Lodato
The following message was sent to Newhouse School students on Friday, Nov. 3 , at 12:48 p.m.
Dear Newhouse Students,
I wanted to share the latest update on the status of Newhouse 1 after the small fire on Thursday night that caused some smoke damage.
While the exact cause is still under investigation, I can confirm that it started in a first-floor classroom in Newhouse 1 that is currently undergoing renovation. School leadership and staff are working closely with Campus Facilities to assess the affected areas.
As a precaution, and with your safety and well-being in mind, we have temporarily closed the first and second floors of Newhouse 1 while deep cleaning and remediation activities take place. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation at this time.
We are aware of 11 classes affected on Friday by the closures. Faculty teaching those classes were notified early this morning. Many of the affected classes are labs in which you or your classmates may already be shooting projects outside the building.
Any classes that were scheduled to meet in person were moved to other locations, or your instructors were given the option of rescheduling or meeting remotely. I apologize for any inconvenience the closures may have caused.
Our goal is to have all of Newhouse 1 open again by Monday. In the meantime, the rest of the Newhouse complex is open as usual.
Family Weekend events on Saturday are also scheduled to take place as planned, and I hope to see you and your families back at Newhouse this weekend.
I want to thank each of you for your patience and understanding during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. I am committed to keeping you informed and addressing any issues that may arise.
Sincerely,
Dean Lodato
The following message was sent to Newhouse School students on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 10:48 p.m.
Dear Newhouse Students,
Earlier this evening, a small fire started in a Newhouse 1 classroom, resulting in some smoke damage. The building was evacuated, and thankfully no one was hurt.
First and foremost, I want to reassure you that everyone is safe, and the immediate situation has been resolved. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our Newhouse community, and we are taking all necessary precautions.
Cleanup efforts are already underway. To that end, out of an abundance of caution, I have decided to move all Newhouse 1 first- and second-floor classrooms and offices tomorrow. This will allow time to assess and address any potential smoke damage and ensure that the affected areas are safe for use once again.
Those students, faculty or staff impacted by closures will be notified as soon as possible about alternative arrangements for Friday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. I understand that such incidents can be unsettling, but please rest assured that we are working diligently to minimize any disruption while maintaining a secure and conducive learning environment.
If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
I appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Dean Lodato