New Building Construction Update

A regular update of the exciting design and construction process of the new PreK-5 elementary building for the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools.

Winter 2019

Since the fall of 2018, a series of community, staff and student engagement forums have convened to facilitate, gather and assess input from stakeholders on a variety of aspects of the new PreK-5 building. Ideas on the internal look, functionality of classrooms and common space have been obtained as well as feedback on the external façade design. The BBHCSD thanks all of the individuals who contributed time, effort and energy to this important stage of the process.

In partnership with our architects-of-record, TDA (ThenDesign Architects) and our construction managers, Shook Construction, we are oficially in the Design Development phase of the project and will remain in this phase until the end of March 2019. The Design Development phase infuses community expectations into the overall design of the building. Initial drawings are likely to be presented to the Board of Education on February 27, 2019.

In addition to the community and stakeholder feedback, the Design Development phase also accounts for the enrollment realities confronting the BBHCSD, and the three separate studies that have concluded its steady decline over the last decade. Though designing a PreK-5 building that meets these enrollment projections, the District
has capacity within the HS and MS if the trend were to reverse. Bottom line, the BBHCSD is fully prepared to accommodate current enrollment trends, or sudden changes in trends, throughout this process.

When the architects-of-record present their initial design at the February 2019 Board of Education meeting, they also hope to achieve Gross Maximum Price (G.M.P.), which is an initial budgetary glimpse of the total cost of the project.

The new PreK-5 elementary building is being designed with the most contemporary technology infrastructure available to public education. This will include Maker Space, laser cutting, 3D printing and custom fabrication technology. Though a general theme of ‘wellness’ will be apparent throughout the new facility, students will interact with cutting edge innovation on a daily basis, for example, with handheld devices and interactive walls. Safety and security technology will be optimal as well, and will include kiosks and state-of-the-art badge and entry systems.

Apart from the new PreK-5 building, planned upgrades to the Middle School and High School, as presented during the levy campaign, are still being anticipated according to schedule and budget. More information will be forthcoming in the near future as to the specific scope of those upgrades.

At present, the BBHCSD anticipates the demolition of Chippewa and Highland Elementary at some point after the start of the 2021-2022 school year, with a future use of the properties to be determined during the next two years.

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New Building Construction Update

In partnership with the City of Brecksville and City of Broadview Heights, both communities have hosted public meetings that in some way, allowed for public input and questions about the project. The BBHCSD expresses its gratitude to the leadership of both cities, and encourages the community to be on the lookout for continued public meetings regarding updates of the process.

In addition, and due to the legal arrangement with the City of Brecksville, several other important activities are taking place under their supervision that impact this project. These include the wetlands remediation process, which involves federal and state EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers and local regulatory codifications. Storm water run-off, sanitary sewer and other factors are all accounted for in this remediation process. Before site development and construction can start, all parties must approve the environmental impact and wetlands remediation component of this project, all of which, is oficially in-progress.

While the City of Brecksville is providing the exclusive funding for the construction of the Field House, thereby providing a cost savings to the District, it will function as the school building’s gymnasium and athletic facility during the normal school day. The Field House will feature 4 basketball courts in total, which is more than the current elementary schools provide our students combined. The Field House will be utilized by residents during non-school days and evenings/weekends based upon the City of Brecksville usage policy.

A trafic study has been commissioned by the City of Brecksville to assess bus and car trafic on Oakes Road once the new PreK-5 building is completed. The District’s intent is for bus trafic to be directed to the Parkway and enter via a bus-only access road on the south side of the building. Passenger car, building staff, and visitors will enter via the main drive off Oakes Road. The bus access road will only be open to buses during drop off and pick up at the beginning and end of the school day. This Trafic Study is expected to be complete in late February with information shared to the public following completion.

Central School will close at the end of the 2018-2019 School Year. Current 4th graders will take their 5th grade year at BBHMS while current 3rd graders will take their 4th grade year in their current, respective buildings. Preschool will temporarily be housed at the current Blossom Hill School for the next two years.

The Board of Education Ofice will not be moving to the new PreK-5 Facility, but the District is currently exploring relocation options to existing buildings per our long-term facilities plan. This plan also calls for consideration of using the current Board Ofice site as proposed areas for practice field expansion for our growing co-curricular and athletics program.

Over the summer, the design will become architectural drawings. Site development is expected to begin, contingent on the wetlands remediation, in October 2019. The building is expected to open for the start of the 2021-2022 School Year.

Community input and communication will remain important over the next two years. Please stay tuned for the next “Buzz” New Building Construction Bulletin in Spring 2019.

www.bbhcsd.org	Connect with us!	@bbhcsd