GROUND BROKEN FOR SCHOOL EXPANSION

$31 million Conestoga High project includes additional classrooms, labs

Tredyffrin Township School District officials this week broke ground for a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation project at Conestoga High School that will add more classrooms and laboratories, and even include a large atrium area.

The 65,000 square foot expansion and renovation will include 11 additional regular classrooms, three additional special education classrooms, four additional science labs, an additional art room, a fabrication lab, a large flexible learning space and additional smaller spaces for meetings, offices, and small group instruction.

There will be internal renovations to expand the library, the nurse suite, student services suite and the cafeteria to better accommodate the increasing enrollment. Additionally, outside infrastructure improvements, 94 additional parking spaces, and a sports bus queue in front of the gyms will be built.

Construction and renovation is expected to be completed before 2022 and will require both prompt permit issuance by other regulatory agencies as well as cooperation between district officials and contractors.

The projected construction budget is estimated at $30.9 million with the all-in projected budget of $39.6 million. The allin budget includes professional consulting services, furniture, fixtures and equipment, permits, fees and testing, and a project contingency.

The expansion is needed, district officials said, due to increasing student enrollment.

Last year, the district has conducted a Conestoga High School facility study to examine the district’s instructional needs, space utilization and possible options for expansion of the current building. The expansion project has been discussed at school board education, facilities and finance committee meetings and at regular school board meetings.

At its Jan. 28 meeting, the Board authorized the project architects to create detailed design schematics for the expansion project plan.

Tredyffrin-Easttown Superintendent Dr. Richard Gusick said the expansion and renovation project will have no impact on the educational process.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Pictured, front row: Dr. Richard Gusick, Superintendent of Schools and Dr. Amy Meisinger, Conestoga Principal; Back row (left to right): Arthur McDonnell, T/E Business Manager; Richard Delp, President of Schiller and Hersh Associates, Inc., Stacy Stone, School Board Member; Michele Burger, School Board President; David Farabaugh, Architect; Todd Kantorczyk, School Board Member; Marshall Barkman, Maintenance Supervisor; and Matt Heckendorn, architect.