During the Week of April 16...

Metal studs continue to be installed around the exterior of Building Section G. Scaffolding is in place for the next phase of construction installation of brick. The floor deck of the second floor of Building Section F is in place. This portion of the building will house three keyboarding classrooms and the connecting hallway between the two academic communities. A learning alcove in the hallway will overlook the media center. Steel continues to be erected in Building Section D. The installation of underground plumbing in Building Section B has been completed. This was a big task because of the numerous drains in the kitchen area. Excavation continues on the main driveway to the school. Soil from this area is then moved to the front of the building to level the visitors' parking area.

During the Week of April 9...

A variety of activities occurred this week. The general contractor started to install the metal studs in Building Section G that will enclose the exterior of the building. The masons laid the first course of exterior brick around parts of Building Section H. Having finished the ductwork in Building Section G, this work continued in Building Section H. The firewall between Building Section C and Building Sections A and B rose, providing a new landmark. The plumbers did some extensive work in the kitchen area, installing underground sanitary and storm sewer lines. While all of this work was being done, the steelworkers started to erect the structural steel in Building Section D.

Week of April 2...

Westward Ho!! Construction continues to progress toward the western side of the new school. Slab on grade (concrete floor) in Building Section C was poured early in the week. This area will house the administrative office suite, guidance and health suite, art rooms, main lobby, and community meeting room. The locations for the piers, on which structural steel will be installed, were dug in Building Section B.

Final work is done on the structural steel structure of Building Section F. The final gable atop Building Sections G and H was erected. The first ductwork was installed in Building Section G, first floor. This is the first work of the HVAC contractor. See Recent Photos

Week of March 26...

Everything is ready for the concrete floor in Building Section C to be poured. The masons have begun to construct the firewall between Building Sections D and E and the stair towers at the north and south walls of these Sections. The slab on deck (concrete floor) was poured
and finished on the second floor of Building Sections G and H. Completion of this work will allow additional work to be started on the roof in the near future. The second gable roof atop Building Sections G and H was erected. Concrete was pumped into the foundation walls in Building Sections A and B at the western end of the building.

During the Week of March 19…

Construction continued to move right along this week. The most visible change from the web cam and Bakerstown Road was the continued installation of steel in Building Section F. The defined outline of the media center can now be seen. Slab on grade (concrete floor) was poured in Building Section D. The steel for this section of the building also arrived on site. Building Section E has been prepared for concrete. The second floor of Building Sections G and H are also ready to be poured. This can occur as soon as we have a guarantee of warmer temperatures. The masons have installed the foundation walls for Building Section A (Exploratorium).

During the Week of March 12...

Wow! This has been a visibly productive week. The week began with great weather. The general contractor was able to pour the slab on grade (concrete floor) in Building Section F. Building Section F will include the media center (library) and Large Group Activity Center. Concrete was also poured on the stairs in Building Section H that were installed last week. The plumbing contractor continued to install underground sanitary and storm sewers in Building Section C. The most visible change in recent weeks occurred in mid-week when the steel to shape the gable roof atop Building Section H was erected. We then received one final blast of winter as the temperatures plummeted at the end of the week. Despite the cold and snow, the ironworkers began to erect the structural steel in Building Section F.

During the Week of March 5...

Construction this week focused on additional work in Building Sections G
and H. After hanging the roof joists, the iron workers began to place the roof deck. The main stairs in Building Section H were installed.These stairs will be located in the neighborhood lobby and provide access to the second floor classrooms. All of the prep work necessary for the installation of slab on grade (concrete floor) in Building Sections F, E, and D has been completed. The floor on the second level of Sections G and H is also prepared.

During the Week of February 26...

Activity on the building site has begun to increase and will continue at a steady pace as we move into the month of March. The building is ramped in two areas. The first of the two ramps (between Building Sections F and H) has been installed. This will allow for the installation of the floor in Building Section F. Roof joists are being hung in Building Sections G and H. At the opposite (western end) of the site, grading continues on the main drive to the school. This work has included the moving of tons and tons of top soil. The entire foundation of the building has been installed. The last section of the footers, the curved wall of the Exploratorium in Building Section B, has been poured. If an aerial photograph was available, it would show the outline of the entire building.

Weeks of February 5, February 12, February 19

The weather of February had direct effects on construction. Frigid temperatures and snow limited work over the last few weeks. That being said, the second floor deck for Building Sections G and H has been completed. It is ready for concrete to be poured. The steel for
Building Section F has arrived. As soon as the weather breaks, Building Sections F, E, and D are ready for concrete to be poured.

During the Week of January 29...

This week's construction was focused on Building Sections G and H. The contractor is in the process of bolting and securing all steel in Building Section H. Metal decking that will support the floor on the second level of Building Section G is being installed.

During the Week of January 22...

Although the week ended with cold, cold temperatures, work continued on the Upper Elementary building. Steel erection in Building Section H nears completion. The contractor continued to work to install the foundation for Building Sections A and B. At this point, the entire foundation for the building has been completed except for the curved area of Section B. The cold weather and snow has not slowed progress on moving fill from the driveway location to the front of the site along Bakerstown Road.

During the Week of January 15 ...

The cold weather that was experienced this week was a welcomed relief after a long period of wet weather. The contractor continued to erect steel in Building Section H. Hundreds of cubic yards of topsoil were removed, as the grading for the main driveway to the school is prepared.
Grading work also began on the main parking lot for the school (adjacent to Building Sections A and B). Work on the most western side of the building began this week. Footers were dug in Building Section A. Building Section A includes the gymnasium, kitchen, and cafeteria.
Cement was also poured in this area for the footers. Underground sewer and electric work was completed in Building Sections D and E.

During the Week of January 9 ...

Erection of steel continued this week. The majority of the steel beams have been erected in Building Section G. The contractor began to erect steel in Building Section H. Underground sewer lines (storm and sanitary) were installed in Building Sections D and E. Masonry work on the foundation walls in Building Section C was completed. Preparation on the main driveway to the school continues. Topsoil is being stripped away from this area.

Weeks of December 25 and January 1:

After the holiday season, big changes occurred at the school site. On January 2, the contractor began erecting the first steel beams for the building. Work began in Building Section G. A big job, the erection of steel continues and the outline of the building is developing. On the opposite end of the site, ground work began near Meridian Road where the main school driveway will be located. Trees have been removed and work continues to prepare for the driveway.

Week of December 18...

The district celebrates the delivery of the first shipment of steel for the building! Steel for Building Sections G and H arrived on Monday. The contractor then had to "shake down" the steel. This means the specific pieces were sorted and stacked near their installation locations. The structure that can be seen from Bakerstown Road is NOT erected steel. Scaffolding has been installed so the masons can begin building two-story fire walls. Building Section F (media center and large group activity center) has been prepared for the pouring of the concrete floor. Block work in Building Sections D and E (classroom wing) has been completed. The foundation footers for Building Section C (administration and art rooms) has been completed. Final excavation of Building Sections A and B has been completed. Work is progressing well because of the fair weather we have had. Established deadlines are being met. See construction diagram

Weeks of December 4 and December 11...

Dramatic changes occurred on the site. Excavation of Building Sections A and B continued, nearing completion. Block work continued and was completed on Building Sections D and E. Over 20 trucks of cement were delivered to the site and pumped into Building Sections G and H. The concrete was leveled and finished using a Laser Screener. This highly technological equipment created a smooth, level surface on which the first floor classroom tile and carpeting will be installed later in the project.

Weeks of November 20 and November 27...

Considerable change can be seen at the site. Building Sections G and H have had sanitary sewer lines installed. Gravel has been placed in Sections G and H in preparation for the concrete floor slabs to be poured. Footers have been poured in Building Sections D, E, and F. Block has been laid in Building Section F. Building Section C has been surveyed and is ready for the foundation to be dug. The bus parking lot has been paved with a base coat of asphalt. This will reduce the amount of mud that will be carried into the building as construction continues. Cold weather will not hinder progress. Work can continue on schedule unless there is excessive rain.

During the week of November 13…

The various phases of construction continued. Block walls were completed on building sections G and H. All of the footers for the exterior walls of building section F (large group activity center and media center) were poured. This area is ready for block work. The foundation and footers for building sections D and E have been dug. These areas are now ready for concrete to be poured. Final excavation work on building sections A, B, and C nears completion. See construction diagram.

During the week of November 6...

The building rose from the ground this week as foundation walls began tobe built in the back of building section H. The phasing of the work becomes more obvious. Footers and foundation walls were dug for building section F. This is the large group activity center and media center (library). Surveyors returned to the site to lay out the second academic neighborhood (building sections D and E). Section C of the building has been complete excavated. Subsoil continues to be removed to prepare the building site for sections A and B. See construction diagram.

During the week of October 30...

The actual construction of the building began this week!! Footers and foundation locations were dug and cement was poured. Construction will continue in phases. The footers and foundations for building sections G and H are underway (see diagram). Excavation work continues in the areas of building section C. Work near Bakerstown Road included continued installation of the storm sewer lines. See construction diagram.

During the week of October 23... The general contractor continues to do excavation work on the site. The "building pad" for the eastern classroom wing or community has been prepared. Surveyors are laying out perimeter of this portion of the building. The location of the footers and foundation will be identified.

During the week of October 16... The general contractor continues to bring the building site to grade. Large machinery is being used to lower the grade. Dirt from building site is being moved to raise and level the bus and front parking areas. The abandoned house that housed Stepping Stone until 1993 was demolished. The house came down in less than one hour.

During the week of October 9...

The general contractor began clearing more of the site. The area where the building will sit has been stripped of top soil. Two large top soil piles have been created. Top soil will be placed back on the site later in the project. It is not anticipated that soil will need to be removed from the site. Asbestos abatement of the abandoned house that sits along Bakerstown Road was begun and nears completion.

During the week of October 2...

Site work continues. The parking lot on the east side of the building for staff parking has be cut into place. The Ridge Road entrance that will be used for buses has been laid out. Work continues on the large bus lot that will be located on the eastern end of the building. Storm sewers are being installed. Work continues on the retention pond that is located close to Bakerstown Road.