After several years of planning by the Upper Arlington community, construction is now underway on five projects in the first phase of the community-developed master plan for Upper Arlington Schools.
“All of the projects in the first phase of the master plan remain on budget and on schedule as construction progresses,” said Andrew Geistfeld, the district’s treasurer/CFO.
Over the next two months, residents will see the completion of the first major elements on the site of the new Upper Arlington High School. Construction is quickly progressing on the updates to the stadium, and the new track, visitor and concession buildings, home bleachers and press box will be completed in preparation for the fall athletics season.
Footing and foundation work for the new high school building will continue to progress during the months of July and August. By mid-August, the steel structure will begin to take shape.
The first four elementary school projects are also underway. Initial site and building preparations have begun for the new Greensview and Wickliffe, and the renovation and addition to Barrington and Tremont.
Over the next two months, underground utility, footing and foundation work will progress in preparation for new construction or additions on the four sites. At Tremont, interior demolition will also begin in preparation for the renovation portion of the project there.
In May, hundreds of students and families, staff members and community members gathered on the afternoon of May 19 to kick off construction on the four elementary school projects.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for our community, our students and families, and our staff as we begin ‘Building Our Future’ with new or renovated learning spaces that will lead us into our second century,” said Superintendent Paul Imhoff, Ed.D. “What will happen inside these school buildings will continue our tradition of excellence as a lighthouse district.”
A groundbreaking ceremony for the sixth project in the first phase of the schools master plan, a new Windermere Elementary School, will follow in the spring of 2020.
As construction continues, the district invites community members to view furniture options for the new or renovated schools on August 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and August 14 from 10 a.m. to noon in the high school cafeteria, 1650 Ridgeview Road.
The new and renovated buildings have been designed to provide additional space for the district’s growing enrollment, which is projected to increase by 20 percent, or approximately 1,250 students, in the next decade. In the event that growth exceeds projections, each project has been designated to have a logical place for a classroom addition, if needed.
After completion of the first phase of the master plan, the Upper Arlington Board of Education and the community will need to revisit the second phase, including the two middle schools and Burbank Early Childhood School.