School Facilities Upgrades
Community input sought to fine-tune school upgrades
Work could begin February 2017
By Ted Pennekamp
The designing and engineering of the facilities upgrades for the Prairie du Chien School District is underway as the school board recently selected HSR Associates of La Crosse for the $18.9 million project.
“It’s a pretty extensive project,” said Kyle Schauf, one of the project architects for HSR. “We’ll be working with the school staff, administration and community within the next month to get input in order to make the best value. There probably won’t be any major changes, but we’ll be fine tuning. The community played a huge role with their input in developing the referendum, and we would like to use that momentum as we move forward.”
It’s a tentative timeline, but Schauf said it will probably take through June to get the input and fine tune the project.
From the end of June through September is expected to be the design and development phase, during which the several layers of detail will be worked out. “It will be very detailed for each room,” said Schauf.
From September through December is expected to be the phase during which HSR will create a packaged document with all of the numerous details to be involved in the project. “The packaged document will involve the full scope of the project,” said Schauf. He noted that the structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating, and all other elements of the project will be in the packaged document, which potential contractors will review before submitting their bids.
It is hoped the bids will be received sometime in January of 2017. “Potentially, construction could begin by mid-February,” said Schauf. If everything goes well, Schauf said construction may be completed by July of 2018.
Schauf said construction will be done in phases so as to not interrupt the school year.
Schauf said HSR has done several projects in Prairie du Chien in the past. A few recent examples include the courtyard infill at the high school, the cafeteria expansion at the high school, and the 2007 HVAC project at the high school.
“It’ll be nice to be working in the community again,” said Schauf, who is a Prairie du Chien High School alumnus.
The facilities upgrades are expected to consist of air conditioning in all three schools; construction of additions for a gym annex, support space, instrumental music and technical education at Bluff View Intermediate School; a new auditorium, greenhouse, gymnasium and support space at the high school; remodeling, renovation and improvements at B.A. Kennedy Elementary School; playground, parking and site improvements at Bluff View; and acquiring technical equipment and other furnishings, fixtures and equipment.
