|
HVAC
|
|
1/18/2010
|
 As mother nature moves in with snow and cold temperatures, the crew inside are cozy working on the areas above ceiling. HVAC, electrical, fire suppression, to name a few are being installed. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Take a peek inside!
|
|
12/18/2009
|
 As winter sets in, the majority of work moves inside. This shot is in the hallway outside the gymnasium and office area. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Up Goes The Arch!
|
|
11/19/2009
|
 As the elementary construction project moves ahead, the arches for the front entrance are bein set in place. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Can you say, "Lots of concrete!"
|
|
10/19/2009
|
 Lots and lots of concrete has been ordered and poured for the new building. Exterior block is starting to sprout up as the front entrance is getting its final layer in "Big Walnut Brick Red". One may notice that over half of the structure is enclosed with a roof! Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Jim Szabo Inspects Project
|
|
9/18/2009
|
.JPG) Jim Szabo looks over the project from the office area near the foyer and entrance of the new elementary. steel workers are moving very quickly as the building seems to change in shape daily. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Steel Work on Building Moves Quickly!
|
|
9/11/2009
|
.JPG) Steel i-beams, braces, girders, and roof reinforcements are put in place as workers make quick progress to get the building under a roof. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Blockwork Continued...
|
|
8/28/2009
|
 Blockwork continues to be the main theme this week at the site as interior walls are constructed and braced. Work on the exterior walls is taking place as the interior wall work finishes up. Pictured here is the kitchen and mechanical room area. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Interior Walls Taking Shape!
|
|
8/21/2009
|
 Blocklayers move quickly this week to build and brace up interior walls at the front of the new building. Pictured are the interior kitchen\mechanical and kindergarten room walls. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Blockwork Begins!
|
|
8/14/2009
|
 Footers have all been dug and formed as blocklayers start to lay block on the interior walls (front entrance interior walls pictured). Workers have also layed block around perimeter of the building, giving the new structure a definite shape. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
More Footers
|
|
8/7/2009
|
 This picture features the footer and the column base (bottom) of the front entrance. Nearly all the outside wall footer work is complete. Next week, teams of blocklayers will be laying block for the internal walls as well as the outside perimeter of the building. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Footers!
|
|
7/28/2009
|
 Footer construction has started and concrete is being poured. Look for blockwork to start soon as the building starts to take shape! Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Construction Begins!
|
|
7/21/2009
|
 Our exciting building project will soon be taking shape as contractors prepare the site for footers giving the new structure a definite footprint. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
Site Work Begins!
|
|
7/14/2009
|
.jpg) The site work for the new elementary school is in full swing. Sewer, gas and water lines are in the process of being installed along with excavation of the site. Expect to see the structure start to take shape in the coming weeks as we enter the next phase of this exciting construction project. Click here to follow the construction progress through our construction photo gallery.
|
|
|
New Elementary Groundbreaking
|
|
6/18/2009
|
And in keeping with the district administration’s promise to get on – and stay on – a fast track, last Wednesday morning a host of area residents and dignitaries joined Big Walnut administrators and board of education members on the South Miller site for a ground-breaking ceremony.
In keeping with the school district focus on its mission to serve children, Big Walnut students Scott Conrad, Emily Kuederle, Jake Malik, Allison Paglialunga and Gabe Sellers led the ceremony, introduced speakers and turned the first ceremonial shovels of soil. Read more in the Sunbury News.
|
|
|
Village Council approves site plan 5-0
|
|
5/7/2009
|
The Village Council submitted their final vote 5-0 on the site plan for the new elementary school Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Read The Sunbury News' coverage.
|
|
|
Final Site Plan Vote
|
|
4/17/2009
|
The Village Council will submit their final vote on the site plan for the new elementary school will be Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
|
|
|
New Elementary School Update
|
|
4/13/2009
|
The new building's exterior material selections are Big Walnut Red Block with taupe and cream accents and taupe-ish gray metal roof.
The interior color scheme will have a dominant neutral base with all classrooms fairly much the same, with paint and vinyl tile color accents indicating unique interior areas: green for kindergarten, red for music, yellow for art, academic areas would be blue, third- and fourth-grade purple, possibly orange for the library, and a non-dominant mix of all colors in the common areas.
|
|
|
Zoning council approves variances for new elementary school
|
|
3/27/2009
|
A hearing on the zoning variance and the zoning application for the new elementary school was last Monday at 7:30 p.m. and lasted until 11 p.m. Gary Barber, Jim Szabo, Steve Mazzi and Board members Jim Hildreth and Verna Hines attended. We are pleased to report that the zoning council has approved all six variances related to the elementary school construction!
|
|
|
Bond sale a success
|
|
3/18/2009
|
The bond sale Wednesday, March 18 was successful. Because of our Aa3 credit rating from Moody’s, our interest rate was low which made are bonds stronger and more desirable.
|
|
|
The new elementary school's official address
|
|
3/13/2009
|
The official address of the new elementary school is 301 S. Miller Drive; Sunbury, OH.
|
|
|
Discussing specific aspects of the new elementary building
|
|
3/10/2009
|
We've continued to meet with our architects to discuss specific aspects of the elementary building. This week Pat Isbell and Jim Szabo met to discuss the kitchen layout and desired equipment. Peggy McMurry and Jim also met with interior designer to begin to narrow interior finish and color choices. We also continued to refine our selection of cabinet design for all the rooms.
We reviewed the exterior finish options, exterior lighting plan, and site drainage plans. We have decided to narrow our exterior finish option to a split face block like that used at the high school. The color scheme is still being considered.
|
|
|
Sunbury Zoning approved our variance
|
|
3/10/2009
|
Sunbury Zoning approved our variance to the tree replacement policy for access to the middle school property. The applications for all the current known variances for the elementary school site and construction were filed on Tuesday. The hearing on those variances will be on March 23 at 7:30pm in the Sunbury Townhall.
|
|
|
BIG WALNUT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION BONDS
|
|
3/9/2009
|
Galena, Ohio – Big Walnut Local School District is scheduled to conduct a bond sale on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. The sale of bonds will raise $10 million of the total $30 million bond issue as approved by voters on November 4, 2008 for the new school facilities construction project.
A second bond sale will be scheduled for the last quarter of 2009 to sell the remaining $20 million. The bonds will be sold with maturities from one to 28 years in minimum denominations of $5,000.
Interested community members should contact Jim Szabo, Big Walnut Local Schools at 740-965-2706.
|
|
|
Continuing progress on new elementary school
|
|
2/23/2009
|
We are continuing to work with the Development Committee, Joint Venture Agreement Committee, Turner Construction and Fanning Howey to make adjustments to improve our elementary plan.
|
|
|
Owner's Representative Announced
|
|
2/9/2009
|
The Board approved Turner Construction Company to provide representative services for the district during a regular board meeting February 9.
|
|
|
Proposed features for the new elementary school announced
|
|
2/9/2009
|
Fanning Howey presented to the board site plans and introduced major features the new elementary school will have at a regular board meeting February 9, 2009.
Features in the proposed design includes:
- A playground assessable through the school itself,
- Two driveway loops for drop-offs. One dedicated to parents and visitors the other dedicated for buses and staff parking,
- The 16-acre space behind the school will become softball and soccer fields and possibly picnic shelters and walking trails,
- A secure entrance. Anyone entering the building must pass through the main office before gaining access to the rest of the building,
- Classrooms facing the outside of the building allowing plenty of natural light.
- Each cluster of classrooms will have its own designated restroom area and there are additional spaces for interventions, tutoring or one-on-one time with students,
- The gymnasium and the cafeteria separated by an adjustable partition, therefore, expanding the room to allow for larger audiences during special events, and
- The gymnasium, cafeteria and library located in the center of the building allow easy access for all classes to use facilities.
The new elementary design is based on a prototype. However, many features are redesigned to meet Big Walnut's needs. Bruce Runyon, Fanning Howey Executive Director, said plans to open the elementary school in the Fall of 2010 are on schedule and by April will begin designing the middle school. View site plans by clicking "Photo Gallery" at the top of the page.
|
|
|
BWLS interviewed consultants for owner's representative services
|
|
1/23/2009
|
The District interviewed several consultants for the owner's representative services position.
|
|
|
District accepted RFQs for owner's representative services
|
|
1/15/2009
|
The Board of Education of the Big Walnut Local School District is accepted statements of qualifications and proposals to provide owner representative service to the District for assistance with construction of a new elementary school, and related improvements.
|
|
|
BWLS and Fanning Howey meet with Village officials to discuss construction of elementary school
|
|
12/18/2008
|
Big Walnut Local School District administrators and key Village of Sunbury officials held a meeting with members of the Fanning Howey team that will design the district's new elementary school, grades seven and eight middle school and bus facility.
The elementary school, slated to be constructed on a 20-acre South Miller Drive site dedicated to the school district under a joint venture agreement between the Village and the District is scheduled to open for student use in the fall of 2010.
|
|
|
Designs go to Fanning Howey
|
|
12/8/2008
|
At the Dec. 8 Board of Education meeting, board members approved a resolution authorizing contract negotiations with Fanning Howey to provide design services for the elementary school. Fanning Howey's contract will also include design services for a grade seven and eight middle school and a new district bus facility adjacent to Sunbury Industrial Park.
|
|
|
BWLS interviewed architecture firms for the design of the elementary school
|
|
12/4/2008
|
Thirteen proposals were received by the district in response to a RFQ posted on Nov. 12. Proposals were accepted through Nov. 25; on Dec. 2 candidate firms that passed the first cut were notified that they would be interviewed; and interviews were held on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.
|
|
|
Posted Request for Qualifications, search for school architect firm
|
|
11/10/2008
|
BWLS posted a Request For Qualifications searching for an architectural firm to design the school buildings.
|
|
|
Big Walnut passed the 2.9-mil Bond Issue
|
|
11/4/2008
|
District voters approved 2.9-mil Bond Issue during Nov. 4's general election. The Bond Issue is designed to raise $30 million over the next 28 years to fund construction of a new elementary school and a new grade seven and eight middle school.
|
|
|
Superintendent and Development Committee attends the Chamber's Candidates Night
|
|
10/23/2008
|
April Domine and Development Committee co-chair Bob Kuederle were present at the Oct. 23 Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce Candidates Night at Big Walnut High School to explain the district's current and pending facilities needs.
|
|
|
Board approves new middle school land purchase
|
|
9/8/2008
|
During the Sept. 8 Board of Education meeting, board members approved a resolution that will result in the purchase of 37.8 acres of property approximately east of Cheshire Road for the construction of a new grade seven-eight middle school.
|
|
|
Action to Benefit Children Committee campaigns for the passage of BWLS Bond Issue
|
|
9/1/2008
|
The ABC Committee reunited to launch an aggressive two-month campaign to help pass the Bond Issue.
|
|
|
Superintendent and Development Committee presented School Usage and Building Recommendations Report to the community
|
|
9/1/2008
|
During the months of August, September and October the Superintendent and the Development Committee held several community forums and attended community organization meetings to inform taxpayers about the Bond Issue on the Nov. 4 ballot.
|
|
|
Big Walnut Local School Bond Issue official on the Nov. 4 ballot
|
|
7/23/2008
|
During a special Big Walnut Local School District board of education meeting and study session at the Galena Administration Building last Wednesday, board of education
members approved a resolution declaring he necessity of a placing a 2.96-mil bond issue on the November ballot that, if approved by voters, would raise $30 million to build a new grade seven and eight middle school and a new elementary school.
|
|
|
At a special board meeting Jim Szabo reported the cost of the two buildings
|
|
6/24/2008
|
At the special board meeting on June 24, district fiscal officer, Jim Szabo reported that a 60,000-square-foot, 500-student elementary school sited on 20 acres would cost $10.9 million; and a 98,000-square-foot middle school serving 700 grade seven and eight students would cost between $17.9 and $19.1 million.
|
|
|
Development Committee presented to the Board, School Usage and Building Recommendations Report
|
|
6/13/2008
|
In the May and June Board of Education meeting the Development Committee presented a two-part School Usage and Building Recommendations Report that indicates both an elementary school and a middle school facility are needed to meet anticipated district student population growth.
|
|
|
Superintendent assembles Development Committee
|
|
11/1/2006
|
April Domine assembled an all-volunteer Development Committee composed of community members with backgrounds and experience in architecture, design, development, construction management and engineering to assess the district's future facilities needs, and help formulate a plan for meeting those needs.
|