BHS Expansion Dirt Work Continues

The Bartlesville High School campus is abuzz as construction crews are in the beginning phase of a large scale expansion project which will result in BHS becoming a 9-12 high school.

Commonly referred to as dirt work, the current work at BHS includes preparing the site for the building process by removing asphalt and concrete, leveling surfaces and working on underground infrastructure.

The initial phase of construction bids was approved by the Bartlesville Public School District Board of Education at a February 17, 2014 meeting. Approved bids included demolition, concrete, steel, earthwork, storm drainage and the initial phase of electrical and mechanical systems. The initial phase of construction bids totaled approximately $4.85 million, roughly $500,000 under budget.

Following the completion of the 2013-14 school year, construction will begin to intensify at BHS and the expansion will begin to take shape as the steel is erected.

“This summer is going to be an extremely busy time for us. It will be very exciting to see the steel start to go up. This expansion project is something of which our community is going to be very proud,” said BPSD Superintendent Dr. Gary W. Quinn.

Within the next month, the second and final phase of construction bids will be received for the BHS project. The Phase II bid package includes projects such as electrical, finishes, heating and air, masonry and plumbing. The budget for the phase II bid package is estimated to be roughly $11.7 million.

In December 2014, the new structure at BHS is scheduled to be “dried-in,” meaning the shell of the structure will be sufficiently completed and a bulk of the work can shift to the interior of the building. Construction will continue throughout the spring of 2015 with a scheduled completion date of August 2015, in time to start the 2015-16 school year.

“It is a very large project, but I am confident our construction manager Nabholz and our architects at Ambler Architects will do a great job keeping the project on time. I look forward to completion in August 2015,” Quinn said.

Upon completion of construction, BHS will become a 9-12 high school. In order to provide ample space for the addition of two grades, BHS will have a science wing constructed on the north side of the building adding four classrooms for sophomores. Classrooms for sophomores will also be added to the southeastern portion of BHS, just south of the Custer Stadium grandstand. A large cafeteria and commons area will be constructed as well.

Ninth graders will be predominately housed in a freshman center. The freshman center will be constructed on the southeast corner of the existing BHS structure and will not be a standalone structure. The freshman center will allow students to slowly acclimate to the high school setting while being housed in a specific portion of the building for a majority of the day.