In less than a week since the Farmington Board of Education approved $8,547,000 for the addition of a new gymnasium and music wing, construction on "Phase III" of the no-tax increase bond issue construction project has begun.

During the Oct. 20 school board meeting, the board approved the $8.5 million bid from Brockmiller Construction to build the new gymnasium, music wing and renovation of the science labs.

“When I arrived at school on Monday morning, workers from Brockmiller had begun installing the fencing around the worksite for the new gym and music wing,” said Dr. Nathan Hostetler, Farmington High School principal. “We’ve been talking about the new construction since the bond issue passed in April of 2014, and we could not be more excited to see phase three of construction begin.”

When construction is completed, the high school will have a new state-of-the-art 1,600-seat field house, new band and choir and classrooms, three science classrooms and two science labs.

The field house specifically will include a walking track around the main floor, stadium seating for approximately 600 on the floor level and bleacher space for another 250-300. In addition, the space is designed to allow spectators to stand on the walking track without obstructing anyone’s view. The mezzanine level will seat another 700 spectators and include a physical fitness space that will be open before during and after school hours.

“We are very excited to get construction underway on the high school project,” said Superintendent Matt Ruble. “The field house have something to offer everyone from practice space for cheer and dance to AFJROTC, golf, baseball, softball track and cross country as well as the traditional sports of volleyball, wrestling and basketball.”

In addition to the athletic features of the new construction, the new addition will offer new space for the music department and the science department.

“I believe one of the unique features will be the flexibility of the new spaces,” Ruble said. “With the science configuration it will provide much needed lab space for classes that currently are conducting lab based science classes (Physical Science, Biology and Chemistry) in traditional classrooms.

According to Ruble, the timeline for new construction is quite aggressive. The district is hoping to complete the entire project by spring of 2017.

“Construction actually started on Monday with site work and utility work,” Ruble said. “The goal is to be in the field house by October of 2016, band and choir by January of 2017 and the science classrooms and labs in the spring of 2017."

 

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