Major GHS upgrades go to bid in December

Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Upgrades to the Greencastle High School campus will include a secure connector between the main high school building and McAnally Center, in the process providing a new north entrance and concourse.
Courtesy krM Architects

With bids set next month for more Greencastle Community Schools construction projects, the second semester is likely to see the beginning of upgrades at Greencastle High School.

That was what the Greencastle School Board heard during its Monday meeting, when Mike Montgomery of krM Architects gave an update on the school’s construction projects made possible by a $32 million bond sale earlier this year.

The first step in the process included the installation of field turf at Harbison Stadium as well as a new track surface, a project completed this fall.

However, the next round of projects will be more encompassing, touching pretty much every corner of Greencastle High School and McAnally Center.

Beginning Dec. 6, contractors will be able to bid on work at the GHS/McAnally campus as well as the construction of new baseball and softball diamonds on GCSC Transportation Center Property.

Montgomery explained that from that point, there will be a pre-bid meeting with contractors on Dec. 21.

Bids will then be opened on Jan. 13, giving krM time to view, discuss and do reference checks before, if all goes well, offering recommendations to the school board at its Monday, Jan. 24 meeting.

Prominent in this round of projects is the remodeling of the science wing of GHS, a renovated kitchen with expanded and improved cafeteria seating, a slightly relocated and improved media center, a major facelift to the front entry area and the installation of a secure connector between the main GHS building and McAnally.

Along with the connector, additional gym space will be constructed, as well as new weight and wrestling rooms and major upgrades to McAnally’s locker areas.

Finally, Montgomery explained, all GHS classrooms will be getting new ceiling tiles and flooring as well as updated wiring, doors and paint.

He added that krM has been working with school officials to coordinate the phasing of projects to minimize interruption to instruction.

The new baseball and softball fields will also include the construction of concession and ticketing buildings.

Contractors will be able to bid on the work as only the baseball and softball fields, only GHS and McAnally or as the projects all together “and hopefully have an economy of scale,” Montgomery said.

He added that with the high cost of materials right now, a number of contingency plans are in place.

“As you’re all aware, prices have not been our friend,” Montgomery said. “We have plans. If the worst case happens, we have a plan. If the best case happens, we have a better plan.”

Concurrent to construction at the high school, krM and school officials will be moving forward with design plans for upcoming projects at Greencastle Middle School, the three elementary schools and GHS parking lot upgrades.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: