The Upper Arlington School District in central Ohio was overdue for a new high school. The first class to march out of the building in 1957 included legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, but after 64 years of serving thousands of students the time had come for a new building.
With a price tag of $115 million, the new structure, covering 395,000 square feet on three stories, is 100,000 square feet more than the previous school. A unique design element is “Golden Bear Boulevard” which replaces the cafeteria and includes furniture, study spaces, and more. “It’s a flexible space that can be used for study hall or math labs when we’re not using it for lunch,’’ says Chris Potts, chief operating office for Upper Arlington Schools.
FACILITY OVERHAUL
School construction is big business in the United States. According to a report from American School & University, public schools spent $51.3 billion on construction in 2018.
There is cause for the extreme spending. A 2017 report on school infrastructure found 24% rated as being in fair or poor condition. In more than 30% of public schools, facilities, windows, plumbing, and HVAC systems were considered to be “fair” or “poor.” The report said 53% of public schools need to make investments for repairs, renovations, or modernization to be considered in good condition.
School officials and residents in the Ohio city of slightly more than 35,000 recognized the need to improve its school facilities. The high school was part of a comprehensive $230 million overhaul of the district’s facilities, including five elementary schools. Besides age, growing enrollment forced the need to improve the infrastructure. The class of 2021 celebrated 475 graduates—more than double the total of the class that first graduated from the building.
FLEXIBLE, COLLABORATIVE, GREEN
The new school building in Upper Arlington is perhaps best described in three words: flexible, collaborative, and green.
“Our board and our community felt strongly about sustainability and sustainable practices within the systems,’’ Potts says. “Efficient systems were essential, but we also want to create areas that promoted flexibility and cooperation. Our board continued to say we weren’t going to build a brand new 1950s building. Our thought process was all about preparing kids for their future, not our past.”
The academic wing features four common areas that are surrounded by classrooms to allow students and staff to work by themselves or in groups. Offices for counselors and assistant principals are situated throughout the three-floor academic wing. The building includes a two-story library, gymnasium with a seating capacity for 2,000, fieldhouse, natatorium, and 6,000-square-foot fitness center. All of the rooms have occupancy sensors that adjust lighting, heating, and air conditioning when they are unoccupied, which will help save money on energy.
DEDICATED TO THE ARTS
Music and performance are an essential part of the learning environment at Upper Arlington, and the district developed areas specifically for those students. The marching band has a dedicated room that allows members to march directly to the 50-yard line of the football stadium, and music rooms for the band, orchestra, and vocal musical departments.
Students interested in theater will perform in a smaller black box theater and a 1,550-seat performing arts center that will be the envy of area schools.
“It was important to us to give them the type of facility that they deserved,’’ Potts says. “There’s a Broadway style orchestra pit for our amazing orchestra and sightlines in that facility are incredible. The technology package that went into that facility would rival many of the main performing theaters here in Columbus.”
Sitting atop the performing arts center are four acoustical smoke vents manufactured by The BILCO Company. Acoustical vents provide the security of automatic venting while also guarding against noise intrusion. BILCO’s vents feature an industry-high STC-50 and OITC-46 sound ratings, and are found in many theaters and performing arts venues. Wolfrum Roofing & Exteriors handled the roofing and smoke vent installation for the general contractor, Ruscilli Construction. Engineered Systems procured the vents for Wolfrum.
“The architects (Perkins&Will and Moody Nolan) had past experience with BILCO acoustical smoke vents and they performed well,’’ says Gary Henry, superintendent for Wolfrum. “The theater is near the football stadium; the vents will help control noise from there.”
CLOSING THOUGHT
Upper Arlington is ranked as one of the top districts in Ohio by several educational platforms. Its community is engaged in the education process, and supportive of their children and the district. Now, they have facilities that are modern and illustrative of the community’s commitment to education.
“We’re investing in our children’s future and this building will serve students for the next 50, 60, and 70 years,’’ Potts says.
About the Author:
Thomas Renner writes on building, construction, and other trade industry topics for publications throughout the United States and Canada.
Modern Contractor Solutions, January 2022
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