The Longfellow School administration and media center is being worked on, the east-side classroom addition windows are installed and the new cafeteria is nearing the final stages. Completion date is targeted for August 3. Masonry work has started at the Academy and the new entry area and corridor are being constructed.
Eugene Field has windows installed and roof in place on the south addition, and work has started on the cafeteria and media center interior. The windows use passive solar energy to retain heat in the building and lower energy costs. There is also more use of natural light throughout the new additions. Targeted completion date is July 30.
Thomas Jefferson and Denkmann construction began immediately after the groundbreakings. Those projects will be ready by the beginning of the school year.
The board awarded a contract for construction of the building addition at Ridgewood Elementary to Precision Builders, Inc. of LeClaire, Iowa. The $1,685,000 addition came in under budget. A groundbreaking will be taking place at Ridgewood in the next couple of weeks, as well as Frances Willard.
Projects in the design phase include Earl Hanson, Edison Jr. High, Washington Jr. High and the Rock Island High School Cafeteria remodel.
Associate Superintendent Mike Oberhaus gave an overview of the Building Excellence financial picture to date. After a sketchy beginning due to hyperinflation of construction costs, the district has regained control of the financing. The district has contracted out $25.2 million thus far and originally anticipated using $11 million of the reserves, but after revisiting Thomas Jefferson and Ridgewood splitting the projects into two phases, the district has currently used $7.8 million of the reserves. The district will need to look at the development and implementation of a food production facility at the high school to accommodate the closing of the Intermediate Academy food production facility. Mr. Oberhaus is working on options to fund the project and will update the board at a future meeting.
Longfellow entrance and media center, south east side.
Longfellow classroom addition, east side.
Eugene Field south classroom addition exterior.
Eugene Field south classroom addition interior.
Eugene Field cafeteria interior.
Eugene Field media center interior.
Academy addition south west side.
Academy new entrance.
Tags: construction update