First Peek at GHS Developmental Design Phase
With several updates made to trim costs, will the new Guilford High School deliver everything the town expects of it? Tai Soo Kim Partners (TSKP) presented its first developmental design phase documents to the Guilford High School Building Committee (GHSBC) and the public last week, leaving room for further reductions.
With a goal to reach 208,000 square feet, TSKP showed a design that occupies 211,500 square feet, compared to the past plan that showed 216,000 square feet.
"You may recall the committee asked us to try to squeeze the building a little more," architect Rsyzard Szczypek said. "We did shrink a few things."
Changes made from the 95 percent schematic designs include the elimination of the entire black box theater as well as the reduction of six feet-essentially three rows of bleachers-from the auxiliary gym.
Other modifications included consolidation to just one elevator; changes to the configuration of the athletic locker rooms, restrooms, showers, and offices; and the reconfiguration of music classrooms based on the elimination of the black box theater. The plans also shows reductions in the size of corridors and changes to the size and layout of the media center/library, restroom locations, the location of the school social worker's offices, and to storage and custodial closets.
Responding to public outcry about the elimination or reduction to the black box theater and the auxiliary gym, TSKP will provide alternate pricing for both items, leaving some hope to residents.
Todd Williams, chairman of the indoor athletic facilities subcommittee, voiced concerns from members of the subcommittee about the reduction in storage space, the limited amount of office space for coaches, and changes made to the locker rooms, showers, and bathrooms. Other members on the committee, including Mary Beeman, shared concerns about only one elevator's being present in this plan.
The architect reminded the committee and present members of the public that all modifications are subject to revision based on suggestions from the committee, administrators, and staff members.
"We made an effort to shrink the building, which we did, and this is essentially a snapshot in time-you are not stuck with the design," Szczypek said. "We will work on the concerns."
Reports from the Field
Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman and GHS Principal Rick Misenti commented on their recent visit to the building site of the new Bridgeport High School. The visit was to determine the quality of noise caused by a rock crusher and to find out if it would be to disturbing to students and residents.
If the building committee decides to crush rock on site and use it for base or processed material, it will save the project a total of about $390,000.
"We traveled to Bridgeport and looked at a site that was currently under construction. The rock crusher on that site is located essentially just outside the neighbor's backyard. Bottom line is the cement mixer that was pumping concrete up to the third floor was louder than the rock crusher while it was running. We stood right next to it while it was in progress," Freeman explained. "We both come back suggesting to you that [crushing rock on site] would be a good recommendation-seems like a way for a significant amount of savings."
In an effort to keep residents up-to-date with changes made, a "snapshot of the week" is now being posted to the committee's website,
www.guilfordhigh.com, and its Facebook page. The snapshot will give a detailed paragraph summary of what went on at the committee's latest meeting.
The committee will return to meeting on a bi-weekly basis rather than weekly. Its next meeting is on Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Community Center.