Garrison School District filed a lawsuit on March 25 in state court against Tetra Tech Architects & Engineers regarding a nearly $3 million heating system that allegedly failed to meet required indoor temperature and ventilation standards. According to the district, the malfunctioning heat-pump system forced students to wear coats in classrooms and required staff to spend significant time on manual adjustments and monitoring, diverting resources from routine maintenance. Tetra Tech has not released a public statement. This information is based on the district's legal filing and local reporting.
Background
In 2020, Garrison district voters approved $10 million for facility upgrades, including a $2.7 million heat-pump system for building-wide heating and cooling. Tetra Tech was contracted for the system's design and installation. The lawsuit asserts that the heating system failed to comply with statutory requirements for maintaining a minimum interior temperature of 65 °F between September 15 and May 31 and for continuous outdoor air ventilation.
District records state that students wore coats indoors during colder periods and that maintenance staff often had to choose between providing heat or ventilation to prevent system shutdowns-particularly during defrost cycles, which clear frost from coils. Claims in the lawsuit include architectural malpractice, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and professional negligence. The district seeks compensation for investigation, redesign, repair, and remediation costs.
Details
The complaint alleges Tetra Tech relied on weather data from LaGuardia Airport rather than local records, resulting in inaccurate system sizing. The district also claims the design omitted Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) components and failed to address heat loss through the school's century-old envelope. As a result, the heat-pump system could not adequately condition incoming outside air and maintain the required heating. According to the complaint, Tetra Tech did not implement an effective solution after being notified of these deficiencies.
The affected system is central to facility upgrades approved in September 2019, encompassing interiors, security improvements, and heating. The district maintains that ongoing performance issues have negatively impacted educational environments and increased administrative burdens.
Outlook
The case proceeds in state court with timelines currently undetermined. The outcome may have implications for procurement practices, maintenance planning, and HVAC upgrade strategies in public-sector buildings, especially for older facilities where precise environmental modeling and ventilation standards are essential. If damages are awarded, funds may go toward retrofits ensuring compliance with energy efficiency and indoor air quality requirements.
