SAXONBURG — Following a two-month delay, the Knoch School District finally approved the general construction bid for the renovation of Knoch High School during its monthly school board meeting on Wednesday, November 8th.
District superintendent David Foley announced that the winning bid was secured by Mark Hudson Construction, headquartered in Hermitage, Pa.
“This marks a significant moment we’ve eagerly awaited,” Foley expressed. “It’s been a long time coming—some say 30 years, others say 50 years. This juncture stands as a crucial point in the district’s history.”
Originally scheduled for August, the district intended to award the general contractor bid. However, at a special meeting that month, the school board members decided to reject all three bids received, deeming them financially unfeasible.
Consequently, Knoch collaborated with the architecture firm DRAW Collective to streamline the renovation project, reducing both its scope and costs. This involved omitting the rear “site work,” which encompassed plans for a new student parking lot and drop-off area.
The efforts of DRAW Collective proved successful, attracting bids from four contractors this time around.
“While it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t proceed with the site work, we’re thrilled about the various construction initiatives within the building,” Foley remarked.
During the recent school board work session, DRAW Collective presented three potential scenarios for the renovation, all projected to align closely with the district’s proposed budget of slightly over $38.5 million.
Opting for the third scenario, estimated at just over $39 million, entails the addition of a new STEM lab, a wellness center, multiple chemistry labs, a theater classroom, and the revamping of the cafeteria and kitchen space, among other improvements.
“The interior will undergo a substantial transformation from its current state,” Foley highlighted.
Although exceeding the $38.5 million budget, the district aims to save costs by scaling down the planned mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work.
Despite rejecting the initial batch of general contractor bids in August, the district did accept bids for the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and food service components of the project. According to Foley, those winning bids remain valid and won’t undergo another bidding process.
“Now that the project’s scope is defined, the board will approach those contractors with the finalized project details,” Foley stated.
A kickoff meeting for the contractors is scheduled for November 29th. The school district anticipates completing the renovation project by the commencement of the 2025-26 school year.