With students out enjoying their summer vacation, the Kingswood Regional School campus is undergoing a transformation. The aerial view of the campus shows the new multi-purpose building has emerged from the site, the new synthetic turf football field (including bleachers and press box) is ready for their first game scheduled for September 3rd, and the additions on the schools are well underway. Since the school closed for summer vacation, 160-180 construction workers are on site daily working on a fast-track schedule to complete phases of the project required before the students return.
Phase I of the project, which began in November 2009, includes construction of a new 51,000 s/f multi-purpose building which features a 900 seat auditorium, classrooms and locker rooms. The project also includes new synthetic and natural turf athletic fields as well as a Geothermal Ground Heat Exchanger (GHE) piping system to serve the entire campus. 320 wells have been drilled 400 feet deep for GHE system, which is believed to be largest geothermal system in the state. Part of this summer's construction schedule includes major underground site utility reconstruction bringing the geothermal system to all three schools.
Phase II of the project began in June. This 2+ year project includes 90,000 s/f of additions on the three schools - Middle School, High School and Vocational School. All three schools will be re-roofed and renovated. The high school will undergo a total gut renovation, including asbestos abatement. The Middle and High Schools' exterior facades will be replaced, upgrading the thermal envelopes. Phase II will be completed in the fall of 2012.
These projects are being built to meet the energy efficiency and environmental standards of the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (NECHPS State Funding for School Construction).
North Branch Construction is serving as the construction manager. CMK Architects of Manchester are the architects for the projects.