Construction on our new
building is moving at what seems like a break-neck pace. Many hardworking
construction workers and contractors are actively working through the colder
weather conditions to stay on the timeline. We estimate that the project is now
10% complete! Now that the major demolition and some of the larger tasks are
out of the way, watch for that percentage complete to increase exponentially
quicker.
Here are some highlights of
the recent work:
- Soon, we will have completed floors throughout
the building! The old buckled
wooden flooring system was removed from the first and fourth floors. The demolition contractor is quickly making
his way to floors two and three.
- The roofing contractor is installing the new
roof during the dry periods of this winter.
- Masonry restoration is ongoing on the south side of the
building. The old paint has been stripped throughout the building. Walls and
ceilings are being primed to protect the until final painting later in the spring.
- Impressively, the original boiler from 1921 has been
dismantled and removed. The boiler was nearly 30 feet high and included an
abundance of pipes and bricks. It has been cut apart and removed making way for
what will be our new gym space.
Some other fun activities are ongoing:
- Finalizing the design plans and materials
- Creating the FF&E (furniture, fixture, and equipment) plans
Just as the building is
being primed, MPA faculty are engaged in actively planning for our new learning
environment as well. Last week, Christian Long (who spoke at the winter concert)
spent a full day at MPA working with teachers and administrators on defining
and creating learning spaces that represent the needs of our students and
curriculum model. The time was very rich in planning and exploration, and will
continue to build with sessions throughout the spring and early summer.
