Tuesday, January 18, 2000
Fort Thomas seeks bids to build $11.5M school
Aesthetics affected as budget trimmed
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT THOMAS — The Fort Thomas Board of Education will seek bids to build an $11.5 million middle school in early February.
The board voted unanimously Monday to allow engineering firm BBL Maescher of Covington to advertise for proposals.
At 95,000 square feet, the new Highlands Middle School will have a three-story academic wing, gymnasium, cafeteria, music and art rooms, and a parking garage.
Architects and engineers spent the past week paring down the costs of the structure, which was nearly $2 million over budget. Changes in materials that will affect only the aesthetics of the building were made to cut $1.7 million from an earlier $13.2 million plan.
“This will be an excellent middle school,” Superintendent Larry Stinson said. “Nothing, in terms of program needs, has been eliminated. The alternatives are in appearance, not in the quality of programs.”
The district expects to break ground in March, with a completion date of July 2001.
Changes in materials helped reduce projected costs, said Bob Compton with BBL Maescher. Those changes include using brick and man-made cast stone instead of limestone, different cabinets and counter tops and simpler door frames.
At this point, costs are still $115,000 over budget, but board members and Mr. Compton said they think bids will be favorable.
The middle school will also benefit from a $10,000 donation that will fund an outdoor classroom and amphitheater area.
Highlands Middle will be built in the parking lot next to Highlands High School, where the district office building now sits.
To offset lost parking, a smaller lot is under construction across the street from the high school. District offices will move to a former bank building at the corner of Miller Lane and North Fort Thomas Avenue.
Preliminary construction work on the new school started Monday. An 8-foot test hole was dug to gauge underground stability and to allow for temporary shoring when construction begins.
Mr. Compton said the test revealed a stable layer of rock suitable for construction.
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