By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

AUBURN – Repairs to Auburn Hall are under way after a faulty sprinkler drenched some School Department offices last week.

Crews began working over the weekend and are continuing nightly between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to Tom Morrill, assistant superintendent of Auburn schools.

It’s still too soon to get a good estimate on the cost and the time it will take to finish the job, Morrill said.

“I’m sure it’ll take a couple of weeks, two or three, to get things back to normal,” Morrill said. “Of course, we’ll learn more as the week goes on.”

Fire crews responded to a sprinkler alarm in Auburn Hall at 6:12 a.m. Friday. There was no fire, and fire officials said the sprinkler malfunctioned.

The sprinkler was on the third floor on the Court Street side of the building in the Special Education and Learning and Teaching offices. Water damaged floors, ceilings and walls along that side of the building.

Morrill said the Special Education department has moved into other offices and meeting rooms in Auburn Hall during the cleanup. Crews are using the second floor Community Room as a staging area for work. That has displaced some school and community groups, Morrill said.

The city moved into Auburn Hall in October 2004 after an $8.7 million renovation project. City Manager Pat Finnigan said last week that warranties on all parts of the building, including the fire alarm and sprinkler system, are still good.

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