The old fourth- to sixth-grade school building on the Stevensville School District campus was reduced to rubble last week, giving way to a new era and a new set of buildings. Demolition of the 4-6 Grade Building, constructed in 1936, did not draw the same large crowd that turned out for demolition of the junior high building, designed by A.J. Gibson and constructed in 1901. But those who did show up saw another example of how a building may be carefully, thoughtfully, and artfully de-constructed.
Paul Bishop, Project Manager for the School District, said that the building came down remarkably easy.
“Part of the structure was really robust,” he said. “There was a lot of concrete in the lower part of the building. But above the second floor it was just stacked bricks.” Bishop said that what he saw confirmed that the building needed to be taken down.
“It’s been there for 75 years,” he said, “but if there had been an earthquake it would have been disastrous.”
Bishop said that the work was on schedule for a Grand Opening of the new 4th-8th grade building on Friday, August 5, the first day of the annual Creamery Picnic celebration.
Bishop characterized the process as a kind of “rolling finish” as portions of the huge project will be finished ahead of others. He said the 4th and 5th grade classrooms were the first to be closed in. He said the wood floors were in, as were the ceilings, cabinets and lights. He said the colors were very nice.
The main structure for the new Music Center, going in where the junior high building once stood, is already in place.
Bishop cautioned that a lot of concrete was going to be crushed on site in the coming week.
“It will be noisy,” said Bishop. But, he said, no work will be done at night or in the evening, no crushing will be done on Sunday and no crushing will be done during summer school sessions.
After the concrete is crushed the iron rebar will be pulled out with a magnet and the rest will be used as structural fill in the construction project.
One of the major components of the project, the main parking area, goes out to bid next week. Bishop said the goal was to alleviate the historical chaos at drop off and pick up times before and after school.
“People are going to see a dramatic change in the way they access the campus,” he said.
Bishop said that guided tours of the building will be conducted at the grand opening celebration.
“We want to show off the building and thank the voters,” said Bishop. He said he hoped that anyone who voted against the building levy will come and see it.
“What’s astonishing to me,” he said, “is the price, which comes in around $99 per square foot.” He said the community is getting a great building at an incredible price.