A faulty sprinkler head flooded the preschool rooms at the Lakewood Center for the Arts in early August, forcing the nonprofit to relocate its Community Arts Pre-School to temporary studios while crews dry out and repair the space.
No fire was found.
The Lake Oswego Fire Department responded and determined only a malfunctioning sprinkler head was to blame.
Executive Director Andrew Edwards said the center brought in an emergency abatement company to remove water and limit damage, with dehumidifiers and air scrubbers installed in the affected rooms, according to the Lake Oswego Review.
The preschool has moved to two studios at the north end of the building at 368 S. State St. Restoration work is expected to take two to three months, which would put the rooms back in service by late October or November.
"Rest assured, their September programs will continue as scheduled," Edwards said.
Parents looking for fall class details can call the box office at 503-635-3901, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Fresh paint for a milestone year
The sprinkler cleanup is happening alongside a planned renovation. Workers are repainting the building ahead of the center's 75th anniversary season in 2027-28, an effort Edwards said is meant to reinvigorate and refresh the facility for the next generation of artists, students and patrons.
The Lakewood Theatre Company, which performs at the center, opened its current 74th season in July with the musical "Hands on a Hardbody," which ran through Aug. 16. Edwards said some shuffling of programming is ongoing during the restoration, but the building remains active.
No cost estimates for either the sprinkler restoration or the paint project have been released.
What's ahead
The center has not announced a specific date for the preschool's return to its original rooms. The 75th anniversary season lineup has not yet been published. Residents can check lakewood-center.org or call 503-635-3901 for updates on fall programming, the preschool schedule and the upcoming anniversary season.
