By Beacon Staff
Burlington
High School will benefit from several possible renovations over the
next couple of years, though it will be up to the school board to decide
early next year which of those potential improvements become reality.
The Burlington School District hosted a community focus group meeting at Burlington High School Wednesday, Dec. 8.
Matthew
Wolfert of Bray Architects and Tim Seibert of Carl Nelson and Co.
previewed those additions during the meeting, which would be funded
though $30 million in SAVE (Secure an Advance Vision for Education)
money. SAVE money can only be used for infrastructure projects and is
generated through Iowa's one-cent sales tax. Carl A. Nelson and Company
is the construction manager on the project.
Chief
on the list of renovations is a new auditorium with an 800-seat theater
and stage. That would coincide with an auxiliary gym with two basketball
courts, though the new gym would not take the place of the current one
for sports competitions. There would also be a weight room and fitness
room, all on the first floor of the building, as well as an enclosed
space linking the high school to the industrial arts building.
Many
of the classrooms would undergo renovations as well, expanding from
roughly 700 square feet to 900 square feet. The science lab, which is
badly in need of renovation, would also be updated with new equipment.
The
plans detailed a new kitchen facility and media center and would
relocate the main office to the front of the building. The library would
evolve into a common area for students, while maintaining it’s
functionality.
Aside from the building
renovations, construction behind the scenes of the 1969 building would
update the antiquated HVAC system – a system as old as the
building itself. Cost of the new air system
is estimated to be just under $10 million, though the cost of the
visible renovations will likely exceed $30 million.
The
air quality upgrade would provide better temperature control, improve
humidity controls to reduce corrosion of the swimming pool area, add air
conditioning to the gym and locker room areas and reduce energy
consumption. All of the air handling units would be replaced.
Money
for that portion of the project would come from ESSER (Elementary and
Secondary School Emergency Relief) COVID-19 relief fund.
The project concept presentation may be accessed at the following link: https://www.bcsds.org/District/Portal/bhs-renovation-project-2021