FAYETTEVILLE -- The multimillion dollar Fayetteville High School project will be completed by August and be within its budget, school and construction officials said Tuesday.
"We are moving along very well," said Steve Clouten, a executive vice president of operations with Nabholz Construction Services.
The company is in charge of the five-year project expected to wrap up when school starts this August. Clouten said the second phase of construction -- estimated to cost about $45 million -- is on schedule for completion.
The roughly 550,000-square-foot project is estimated to cost $96 million, school officials said. The project will allow freshmen through seniors to attend school in one building next school year, said Alan T. Wilbourn, school spokesman.
Despite icy conditions, construction has continued at the high school, Clouten said during the School Board meeting Tuesday. Stone veneer is going up, landscaping stones are ready for installation and wall board is being hung, Clouten said. Photos showed interior areas roughed in, wiring finished and cabinets installed.
The high school is expected to serve about 2,400 students and is part of a community design to upgrade the school district, Wilbourn said.
DLR Group partnered with local firms, Marlon Blackwell Architects and Hight-Jackson Associates, to plan and engineer a "small learning community" model for Fayetteville. The model included renovating older buildings and expansions, according to the DLR Group's website. The old school building was gutted to its steel, but part of the new high school is all new construction. Wilbourn said.
Wok in other parts of the School District also are under way, Wilbourn said.
The School Board approved a $82,700 contract with Crafton Tull to design The Agee-Lierly Life Preparation Services Center and building restrooms for the nearby track facility.
The center was built around 1960 and needs upgrading, Wilbourn said.
The center serves students whose "needs are not met by traditional programs," according to the center's website. Students can choose to participate in cosmetology, dental assisting and programs from Northwest Technical Institute.
Crafton Tull is expected to have design and cost estimates in a few weeks, said David Tate, director of the physical plant for the School District.
The School District plans to use at least part of about $1.9 million it expects to save through refinancing about $24 million in 2010 bonds to pay for construction projects, Wilbourn said. The board approved Tuesday refinancing with Crews & Associates.
NW News on 02/25/2015