Knoch school board expected to consider bids for high school renovation project, work could begin in November

The Knoch School District embarked on its journey to renovate the high school in August. However, during a special meeting held on August 26, the district faced a tough decision. They opted not to accept any bids for general construction or landscaping due to unexpectedly high costs.

To navigate this challenge, the district turned to DRAW Collective for help in redefining the project’s scope. Their collaborative efforts have yielded positive results, with four bids already received since reopening the bidding process on October 26. Principal architect, Cassandra Renninger, noted that there was considerably more contractor interest, and their bids aligned closely.

Renninger, alongside fellow principal architect Jeremy Beatty, presented three potential scenarios for moving forward, all of which remained within the district’s budget of just over $38.5 million. They showcased a map illustrating the proposed renovation, highlighting “baseline” changes in green and potential construction “alternates” in red – features to be added if bids permit.

The “baseline” components included a theater classroom, wellness center, chemistry wing, kitchen, boiler room, and a chiller, among others. The first scenario encompassed all baseline elements and a STEM area, estimated at just over $38 million. The second option added an auditorium to the baseline, totaling just over $36 million.

The third scenario combined the baseline with both the STEM area and auditorium, with an estimated cost of $39 million, slightly exceeding the budget. Beatty suggested that savings achieved by adjusting the scope of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components could help balance the costs.

The ultimate goal, as Superintendent Foley emphasized, is to create enriched learning opportunities for the students. The project aims to provide innovative learning spaces that will better prepare students for their future endeavors upon graduation from the school system.

Read more at the Butler Eagle

GDPR

  • Cookie Policy

Cookie Policy

If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.

If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.