By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Here is the preliminary design for the new Groveport Madison High School. “The three images on the bottom are the renditions that were tweaked to get to the current design,” said Groveport Madison Schools Public Relations Officer Mary Guiher.
Groveport Madison Schools officials are seeking public input on the preliminary designs for the district’s new high school.
“We are asking people to provide feedback via an online survey located on our construction update page,” said Groveport Madison Public Relations Officer Mary Guiher. “We have a ‘Construction Update’ tab located on the left side navigation bar on the home page our our website. It connects to a new building construction update page at http://www.gocruisers.org/constructionupdate.aspx.”
Guiher said people can also access the feedback form on the district’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.
“In addition, if they visit our home page (at gocruisers.org) and sign up for our community e-newsletter, we will provide updates on the design and construction throughout the summer via e-news,” said Guiher.
The survey questions include: What should the design of the high school convey about the school and/or district? How well does the current design direction convey this? What other comments/suggestions do you have? What questions would you like to have answered in future communications?
The direct link to the online survey is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/gmnewschool.
Guiher said the renderings show the current direction the design team is headed with the building.
“This is not the final design,” said Guiher. “It may change before board of education approval, and when all elements are costed out. The design team felt it was important to show the community where they are in the process and to get feedback from them before the design reaches final stage for board approval.”
Additionally, Guiher said a groundbreaking ceremony for the new high school will be held Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. Current and former students and staff, parents and community members are invited.
District officials indicated full construction of the new high school could begin by March 2016. Officials hope to open the new high school by the fall of 2018.
About the new high school
Chris Dumford, VSWC Architects vice president, said the proposed 247,879 square foot new high school will include more than 50 academic classrooms, more than a dozen science and technical labs, many small group rooms and areas, a variety of special education spaces, a large multi-purpose lecture room, three art rooms plus a kiln room, large band and choral rooms with practice space, a main gymnasium and an auxiliary gymnasium and an auditorium with stage, scene shop and dressing rooms.
Dumford said said a schematic design of the building could be ready by June and a presentation of the plan could be made to the Groveport Madison Board of Education by July. A public meeting for the community about the project would be held this summer.
According to Dumford, new high school’s design will feature an environmentally green design with high efficiency heating, air conditioning, and lighting systems; water conserving plumbing; increased indoor air quality; and use recycled and regionally obtained materials.
Plans are to build the new high school in and near the parking lot of the existing high school, located at 4475 S. Hamilton Road. Once the new school is built, the existing high school will be demolished.
The $62.9 million high school will be paid for by Ohio Schools Facilities Commission funding of $29.6 million and a local taxpayer share of $33.3 million.
