Getting down to business
Bidding for Phase II of Roundhouse project begins in April
Phase II of the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse project is well-under way, and the public was invited to take a look at schematics and renderings of the planned structure Wednesday afternoon.
“The wrestling room down on the lower level, then on the main floor you’ve got the gym along with some other accessories,” said FEH Design Associate Architect Gary Schulte. “This is design and development, we’re trying to get the plan set and this is the option they’re actually going with.”
Schulte said space for a climbing wall, batting cages and other sports practice spaces are set for inclusion in the 33,000-square-foot design.
“It kind of tucks into the north corner (of the Roundhouse),” he said of the planned addition. “We’re trying to maintain as much of the view of the Roundhouse as possible.”
Keeping the “classic” Roundhouse as visible as possible was one point stressed among some members of the public when Marshalltown Schools and FEH held public input meetings for Phase II in 2016.
On the gymnasium level, Schulte said there is to be access for students coming in from the student parking lot on the north side of the structure. Along an upper corridor of the addition will be new band practice rooms and classrooms, and possibly a security room.
Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte said he thinks the process is going well, and both he and Schulte said it’s likely that bidding for the construction process will commence in April.
“We’re hopeful to be in a position to go out to bid in mid-April and start construction in late May or as soon as school gets out, and be done by June of 2018,” Schutte said.
Heidi Dalal of the Marshalltown Public Art Committee praised the process thus far.
“I think the process has been very inclusive of community input,” she said.
Schulte said the goal is to get construction done before the start of the 2018-19 school year. He said the total project cost remains around $6.8 million, including construction, equipment, and FEH fees for development and design, among other charges.
“Probably one of the biggest concerns we have right now is when we do that work, obviously there’s some disruption to the exits to the auditorium space, and we’re going to work through that,” Schulte said, adding the loading dock on the north side of the Roundhouse will be temporarily inaccessible during part of the construction process.
Another Phase II open house is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, March 6 in the school board meeting room of the Central Administration Office, 1002 S. 3rd Ave. Schutte said that evening’s board meeting will begin after the open house at 6 p.m.