Bond Project completed on-time and on-budget
–by Margie Doyle —
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It’s only 10 more days until the Orcas Island School District formally “unveils” it’s $11.9M Bond renovation project, and it’s full steam ahead, with big changes every day. Once planting starts, the school campus on School Road and Madrona Streets will closely resemble the architects’ rendering shown below.
With the completion of Phase III, the School Bond project will be completed for the ceremony on Aug. 29
The Phase III building rises from the “footprint” of the 1980s Middle School/cafeteria/home ec room/lockers and Commons. It now houses the cafeteria, kitchen, storage rooms, pantry, technology labs, offices, culinary arts room, library and lounge. Touring through the school, visitors will strain their last brain cell to remember the former set-up. (One clue: the bathrooms are in the same location!)
Project Manager Liz LeRoy explains that throughout construction, making the best use of current infrastructures while planning for future expansion and uses were always the goals. “With the bond scope reduction, we took the opportunity to to build infrastructure and prioritize our commitments so future expansion could be supported easily,” she said.
The student drop-off turnaround is at a natural entry point to Commons of the campus, situated between the Elementary brick building, the “new” Middle School, the “old” gym and the new Library/Cafeteria/Tech/Culinary Arts/Kitchen building.
The Commons, which will be newly landscaped before the Aug. 29 tours and barbeque, gives a “Core” to the school and a sense of place, says LeRoy.
“There’s a sense of connection and cohesion among all the areas.”
Earlier this month, most of the school staff came to the remodeled rooms to move their supplies from storage into the new rooms. “I can’t say enough about their cooperation, and about the great work that Tiger Construction did,” said LeRoy.
The next School Board meeting is Thursday, Aug. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the modular building behind the District Office. The Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Bond Construction project will be Saturday, Aug. 29 with the following schedule:
- 4 p.m. Building Tours and Activities
- 4:30 p.m. Dedication Ceremony
- 5 p.m. Barbecue and Celebration
