School Facilities Upgrade
The floor of the new high school gymnasium is expected to be completed soon. There are 20 basketball hoops in the new facility. The district is looking at options for adding bleachers. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)
This is the view from the stage of the new high school auditorium, which will be 45 feet high because of all of the catwalks and rigging needed for performances. There will also be an orchestra pit in front of the stage.
By Ted Pennekamp
Near the beginning of January, all of the roofs had been constructed on the buildings being built as part of Prairie du Chien’s school facilities upgrade project. This has allowed work to continue efficiently on the inside of the buildings, some of which are starting to round into form.
Floors have been poured in the new auditorium at the high school and the flooring in the new high school gymnasium is expected to be completed soon.
Insulation, piping and electrical work are being conducted in the auditorium as well as the surrounding hallways and numerous support rooms including restrooms, storage, costume sewing and a make-up room. The auditorium will be 45 feet high (four stories) because of all of the catwalks and rigging needed for performances. There will also be an orchestra pit in front of the stage.
Exterior windows are being completed at the high school gymnasium. Lighting has been done and 20 basketball hoops have been installed.
The entire district-wide project continues to proceed well and is expected to be completed by Sept. 1, said District Administrator Robert Smudde during a tour at the high school.
Smudde said the district and the school board are looking into options for installing bleachers in the new high school gymnasium. New maintenance staff will also probably need to be hired once the project is completed in order to maintain the big increase in square footage.
An auditorium director will also be hired and the name of the 766-seat facility, tentatively called the Prairie du Chien Area Performing Arts Center, may end up being changed.
Smudde said the cost of the entire project, which includes numerous upgrades at the high school, Bluff View and B.A. Kennedy, is projected to be approximately $19 million. A few months ago, the school board heard a presentation by the architect that the cost could be as much as $500,000 higher. Since then, the district has found areas where it can reduce costs, Smudde said.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held on April 19, 2017 at the high school. The addition on the east side of the high school will be 31,170 square feet and will house three gymnasiums and a greenhouse. The new 27,960-square-foot auditorium is on the west side of the high school.
The architect for the facilities upgrade project is HSR Associates of La Crosse. The general contractor is Olympic Builders of Holmen.
Construction also continues for the technical education area and band room in Bluff View, with piping and underground work underway. Upgrades in B.A. Kennedy are also proceeding on schedule.
