PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
EXPANSION NEARING COMPLETION … The addition of the new Career Technical Center and the high school and middle school buildings, which includes a new junior high gymnasium and weight room in the Bryan City School District, is nearing completion. Superintendent Mark Rairigh is hoping for the completion of the project by Friday, June 12.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan City School District is nearing the finish line on a major high school and middle school expansion project, which includes a new career technical center, a junior high gymnasium and a weight room.
Superintendent Mark Rairigh said the district is approximately two weeks away from a project completion date hopefully by June 12.
“Right now, what we are going through is a final punch list of items as well as the completion of a few miscellaneous projects on the interior,” said Rairigh.
Among the punch list items, according to Rairigh, is catching up on little things as well as the HVAC system to make sure the ductwork is properly installed in the gymnasium.
The exterior of the building is 98% finished, along with the grass seed already put down, and the new parking lot is in, and the turf outside the weight room is complete.
“The exterior is in a really good place right now,” said Rairigh. This week, the district is expecting a shipment of new equipment for the weight room. Once it arrives, crews will assemble it.
Rairigh is hoping the weight room can be occupied by June 12. A dedication program for the high school and middle school building expansion project will take place in August.
“This will give us time to make sure we get furnishings in place and things squared away a little more,” he said.
The Career Technical Center cost $2.5 million to build and was fully funded by a Career Technical Education Equipment grant from the State of Ohio.
The grant program was an initiative originally led by former Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, who is now a U.S. senator.
“We were able to propose our vision, and fortunately we received the full amount available for the state grant,” said the superintendent.
The junior high gymnasium and weight room addition cost the district $3.7 million.
The other building project involves the renovation of the present Arts and Education building in which the demolition phase is already completed.
Rairigh said the district is preparing for construction of a new lobby and backstage additions alongside a total rejuvenation of the auditorium’s interior.
He also mentioned that the project scope would be put out to bid in late June for about three weeks. The district will learn who will be the general contractor in July.
“Typically, once you establish who your general contractor is, there is probably a month or six weeks around until they start actually moving around dirt,” Rairigh said. “I would say we would see dirt moving in late August or early September.”