CONSTRUCTION CHRONICLES #13
September 27, 2007
The opening of school at both Har-Bur Middle School and Lewis S. Mills High School has gone extremely well considering all the challenges faced as we approach the completion of the building project. Many thanks go to all of you for your patience and flexibility during this period.
We are currently working with the contractors to identify items for final completion and adjustments to the various systems: plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation, technology, etc.
· LSM gym/locker rooms – We are awaiting final installation of ADA compliance equipment for the bleachers. Final renovation work is being completed on the locker rooms.
· LSM technology education – All systems have been installed and the room is now almost fully operational. Classes are being held in the room.
· Plumbing – We have experienced a couple of leaks/plugged lines and these issues were quickly resolved. We will continue to monitor this situation.
· Water quality – The installed waterlines to the Town of Burlington system have eliminated the need for well water. Water quality is excellent and there are no issues with the water system.
· Air circulation – It has been an unusually warm fall and the rooms on the second floor have been unusually warm during the day. We are working with the contractor and architect to be certain that there are no construction-related problems. In the meantime, water fountains are available and students/staff are encouraged to increase water consumption. Cooler weather will be upon us before long and we will continue to explore options.
· Landscaping – If you’ve been around the buildings, you can see grading being completed and reseeding of the various fields. Once trailers are off the site, we will complete preliminary landscaping work. Some new plantings will wait until next spring.
Hold the date: It is our intention to invite the communities of Burlington and Harwinton to tour the new facilities and to celebrate the completion of the project. Hold the date of Saturday, November 3, 2007, 3 – 5 P.M. Details to follow.
Paula Schwartz
Superintendent of Schools
24 Lyon Road • Burlington, Connecticut 06013
Telephone (860) 673-2538 • Fax (860) 675-4976
Construction Chronicles #12
August 13, 2007
It’s been another busy summer at the Har-Bur/LSM site. The final phase of the building project is nearing completion. School will open on September 4th with some finishing work being accomplished in the months of September and October.
At Har-Bur all classrooms are ready to go with the new 5th grade teachers already hard at work getting their rooms ready. The 8th grade teachers have returned to their wing and the unified arts rooms have been renovated. The two gyms are ready and the new outdoor area is being paved this week. The cafeteria and other classrooms are all ready for the arrival of students. The construction crews are getting hallway ceilings buttoned up and new doors are in place.
At Lewis Mills, the majority of classrooms are polished and ready for the arrival of students. The science wing is awaiting some casework and the finishing coats of paint are being applied. There is one hallway that will be tiled this week. The technology education rooms are getting their ceilings and lights installed this week.
It is anticipated that the administrative offices of the high school and central office will be completed by the end of this week. Everyone will then return to their own spaces so that the nurse and media center will be ready for the staff and students.
Work on the high school gym is well underway with the installation of the flooring taking place as we speak. The new floor will take several weeks to complete, but we anticipate that it will be ready by October. The cafeteria, auditorium and music wings were completed last spring and will be operational on the opening of school.
Please pay particular attention to the bus rules at the complex. In order to ensure a speedy departure in the afternoon, we strongly recommend that any pickups be done before or after the buses leave. Ken Platz, principal at Har-Bur, is working with the bus companies to ensure a safe and efficient departure from that building especially because of the 5th graders.
We look forward to greeting you all on September 4th. If you have any questions regarding construction, please contact the appropriate principal who will direct your call.
Construction Chronicles #11 February 9, 2007
We are proud to announce that the new high school music wing is open with students and teachers praising what will be an exciting new area of the high school. High school students have the opportunity to take music courses throughout the day, rather than being limited to the mornings. The three spacious rooms – choral room, band room, electronic music/general music classroom – will provide outstanding music opportunities for all students. The area also has spacious lockers for equipment, wardrobe storage for productions, uniform storage for the band and set storage and work area for the stage crew. The area also boasts new practice rooms and a recording area. The older music area will now be devoted to the middle school.
The wellness department at both schools has also had some new spaces completed. At the high school, the new fitness room, weight room and athletic trainer room are operational. Classes have already made use of these areas with the dance segment of instruction now being conducted in the fitness room. The athletic trainer is conveniently located near the door to the track and she will be better able to service student issues related to sports. The new concession stand for evening events at the high school was operational this week.
The middle school wellness department will have their new health room ready within the next two weeks, as well as the new auxiliary gym. The floor of the new gym has been poured and the lines drawn for the new basketball and volleyball court.
The new custodial and maintenance areas are now operational, providing adequate space for equipment, trucks, tractors and for repair facilities. Building construction or repairs can now be accomplished in a safe and appropriate area.
The new high school nurse’s office is now operational. There are four emergency cots and a private office for conferences and exams. Supplies and medicines are now securely stored.
The auditorium is almost ready. The seats are being installed and the wooden stage floor is almost completed. The curtains are awaiting completion of all interior spaces – floor, carpeting and seating. It is hope that the facility will open in March in time for spring activities and performances. It is planned as the indoor site for graduation.
Construction Chronicles #10 January 4, 2007
We’ve turned the corner on the construction project. We are now starting to add new space into the current instructional program. Beginning in December the following areas have been completed: High School - New and expanded family and consumer science room adjacent to the cafeteria, renovated health classroom, expanded nurse’s room with additional beds, new conference room. We’ve reopened one high school classroom wing and have shut down the next high school wing for renovation. Middle School - new renovated locker room and renovated Technology classroom. The 8th grade wing is being completed and the central core of the middle school is now being renovated. During this month the new auditorium, new high school music wing, new fitness and weight rooms at the high school and the new middle school gym and health rooms are expected to open. Work will continue on other areas of the buildings up through fall 2007.
Construction Chronicles #9 11/13/07
As of this date, the new science/classroom wing at Lewis S. Mills is now open. Classes being relocated during construction now occupy the four classrooms. Science teachers and their classes now occupy the two new science classrooms. More importantly, the hallways on the first and second floor provide improved circulation for students and staff in the building.
At the middle school, the renovated technology classroom and the new gym are almost ready for occupancy. We’re hoping by Thanksgiving they will be functioning for students. The middle school locker rooms are now open for use during the winter and spring. Work is continuing on two additional classroom spaces where the former boiler room was located.
The hallways leading to the cafeterias in both buildings have been tiled. New doorways have been installed as well and we are seeing less dust in these areas due to this completion in the project. We continue to monitor and maintain air quality during this phase of the renovation.
We are now beginning work in the back rooms of the library and the 8th grade wing at the middle school. Work continues in the high school family consumer science area, custodial spaces, nurse office, and the auditorium areas. We hope to complete the first section of the high school classroom wing by the holiday break.
Construction Chronicles #8 8/15/06
We are moving ahead at breathtaking speed to have the middle school and high school ready for opening day on Tuesday, September 5. Please be aware that this is the first year of a two-year process. We are on target for the majority of areas that need to be completed for September 2006.
The new 5th grade wing is complete and ready for occupancy. For the 2006-07 school year, our 8th graders will occupy this space while their area is renovated during the school year. The 6th and 7th grade wings have undergone renovation this summer and are ready for occupancy. The technology room in the middle school near the cafeteria is being temporarily moved to the 8th grade wing, while work is being completed in early September.
The cafeteria in the middle school has been problematic due to roof modifications during construction. However, the construction manager has assured us that it will be ready for opening day. Nonetheless, we have made alternate plans just in case we cannot meet this deadline. The high school cafeteria will be ready, as will the kitchen serving both buildings and the servery area. We anticipate a letter to be sent home explaining the new procedures and payment methods during the last week in August for students in both buildings.
Classrooms at the high school undergoing renovation this summer will be ready for occupancy. The guidance office will be complete by the time school begins. One corridor of the high school will remain closed while construction continues. However, the former art rooms will be used as “swing” space for rooms unavailable. We expect the new science wing to be completed, but if it is not ready, we have made alternate plans for the first few weeks to use the current 8th grade wing at the middle school as a temporary wing for the high school with access through the library.
Hallway ceilings in both buildings will still be open, but secured, for the opening of school and will remain this way until the total project is complete. Some floors will be concrete until a specific area is complete. All bathrooms, alarms, computer connections and telephone hookups will be in place for the opening of school.
The front entrance for the high school is being paved today and will be completed for the opening of school. Any work in the parking lots will also be complete and ready for school opening.
We are helping the teachers for the opening of the school by keeping the building available to them over the Labor Day weekend. However, they will be restricted to only certain areas and no community members or students will have access until school starts. All student orientations for both the middle school and high school have been postponed until the opening day of school.
Construction Chronicles #7 7/25/07
If you’ve been driving along Route 4 recently, you can see the progress we’re making on the Har-Bur/Lewis Mills project. We have over 160 workers on site each day and the place is humming.
The 5th grade wing is operational with the 8th grade furniture and supplies being moved into the area. For the 2006-07 school year, the 8th grade will operate out of this area, while their area of the building is being renovated. In 2007-08, the 5th grade will move into their own area and the 8th grade will be relocated in their area. The bright rooms are engaging and are will designed for the 5th graders. The area is adjacent to the new gym, unified arts and the cafeteria and should provide an exciting new environment for our students.
In addition to the construction, a transition team has been working hard to put together a timeline of events and actions that need to take place before the 5th graders move up to Har-Bur. We will be sharing that information in September and October.
The cafeteria/kitchen areas are nearing completion. This week the appliances and cabinets are being installed in the kitchen. The new freezers and refrigeration units are already in place. The servery areas for both schools has been tiled and painted. We are awaiting the completion of the lighting in the cafeterias and then the floors and ceilings will be installed. Students and staff will be surprised at the spaciousness and inviting setting in both cafeterias. We are also installing a new card system for payment of lunches that should increase time for eating lunch and allow parents to prepay lunches.
The new fitness and weight rooms adjacent to the high school gym are being worked on. We hope to have the locker rooms operational for September. Renovations to the high school gym do not take place until next summer.
The science/classroom wing at the high school is rapidly moving forward. Today sheetrocking is taking place in the classrooms on the first floor and electrical work is being completed on the science classrooms upstairs. The new hallway will connect the technology area with the main academic wing at the high school. This should remedy some of the overcrowding in the main hallway.
The work at the auditorium is also progressing. The floor has been pored and today they were working on the handicap ramps to the stage. We still need the lighting and electrical to be completed and seats installed. The rooms designated for high school music classes are slightly ahead of this timeline. The area is not to be completed until January 200
The renovation of the existing buildings is ongoing. Ceilings are down and new electrical and communication lines are being installed. We hope to have guidance fully functional by the time school starts in September. For the opening of school, a group of rooms on each floor will be renovated and classes moved to accommodate this plan.
Outside the buildings, there is a great deal to see. The facings on the old auditorium and high school gym has been reworked to be architectural and visually more cohesive to the overall design. As you can see, there is a dramatic revamping of the “skyline” of LSM with a new clock visible from Route 4 and the athletic fields. Windows will continue to be replaced as the project moves forward.
As of today, the project is on-time and on-schedule.
Construction Chronicles #6 4/24/06
Another milestone has been reached in our construction/renovation project at Lewis Mills/Har-Bur complex. Today, the two new art rooms at LSM have opened in the area formerly housing the auditorium seating area. Students in two-dimensional and three-dimensional art classes will now use these spacious rooms, with adequate space for storage and display. An area has been designated for the pottery wheels, in addition to areas for painting and sculpture instructional. The students and staff are thrilled to have a bright and spacious area to work in at LSM.
The former art rooms are being renovated into a computer lab and an expanded technology education area. Work is also proceeding on the new science/classroom wing at LSM. The floor is being poured now that the structural elements are in place.
The new 5th grade wing at Har-Bur is almost 100% completed and it is expected that the incoming 8th grade will occupy this space in September, allowing their own wing to be renovated during the 2006-07 school year. The walls for the new auxiliary gym at Har-Bur are being erected and completion of that is expected in September.
The work at the auditorium and cafeteria continue, with expected completion of the first in January 2007, and the completion of the latter in September 2006. Work on interior renovations to both buildings is progressing on schedule.
Construction Chronicles #5 1/10/06
The weather has been very cooperative and progress is being made on all aspects of the building project. The 5th grade wing is moving along at a rapid rate. Interior walls are being constructed and the outside masonry is nearly complete. Preliminary plumbing, heating and electric is underway. We anticipate meeting our deadlines for this section. Likewise, the kitchen and cafeteria areas are nearly enclosed and interior work is beginning. The utility/boiler room underneath the kitchen is filled with equipment and connections to outside power and interior hookups. The connections were completed with CL&P over the break.
The foundation is being poured this week for the high school science wing and as long as the weather holds work will be progressing on this area. The old auditorium has now been turned into three instructional spaces – 2 large art rooms and the video studio. Interior electrical, heating and plumbing is ongoing. The roof of the former auditorium was replaced in December when students/teachers were not in attendance.
Dave Fortin and staff from O&G gave a personalized tour of the facility to members of the Husky Leadership Team from Har-Bur Middle School. Students expressed enthusiasm for the project and the work that is being done. Students from Family Consumer Science classes prepared holiday treats for the construction workers to thank them for their efforts.
Further updates will be listed on this site as work progresses.
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