School was designed as a result of a district-wide optimization study to address declining enrollments. In order to minimize long-term costs and maximize facility usage, the study called for a realignment of the grade-level structure and subsequent renovation-addition, and new construction to address the modernized 21st Century learning modalities.
As part of the process, middle school grades were moved into the district’s high school facility, along with a major addition and interior renovation prior to this project’s construction. The former asbestos- and mold-laden 1950s-era elementary school was closed, and the existing middle school site and portions of the building repurposed for elementary school use.
The project combined new construction and renovations to an existing metal frame building located on a site shared with a high school sports complex.
The new elementary school is located on the former site of Westmont Hilltop Middle School, which was partially demolished as part of the project. The site planning for the new building and parking lot was extremely challenging because an existing high school sports field complex needed to remain on a combined 9.6 acre property. Additional integrated site and stormwater improvements were included along with a new playground for younger children. Substantial site reconfiguration was needed to improve separation space between cars, buses, and pedestrians.
The oldest part of the former middle school building, dating from 1921, was demolished, as it could not be renovated effectively to serve the new elementary school’s needs. The existing 1977 wing of the former middle school was retained and incorporated into the project to contain costs.
Interior spatial reconfigurations provided a new grade level-appropriate STEM learning center, vocal/instrumental music, computer, and library spaces. The existing gymnasium, cafeteria, kitchen, and locker rooms were modernized as well. Other interior upgrades included ADA accessibility, replacement of electrical service, wiring, and lighting, and full plumbing replacement, as well as installation of a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The exterior of this portion of the building was improved with new materials that matched and blended with the new classroom addition.
New entry lobby.
Another factor in the design is that the building is located within the historic district of Luzerne Street, a nationally-recognized streetscape within Westmont Borough, Pennsylvania. Because of the building’s location, exterior material selection included stone, clapboard siding, vertical panel siding, brick, and metal panels in order to blend with the existing neighborhood scale and vernacular.
The resulting solution included construction of a new 3-story classroom building constructed with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) and precast concrete planks for durability, maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing overall building height in relation to the neighborhood. The internal configuration is comprised of three “schools within a school” aligned with Kindergarten, grades 1-3, and grades 4-6. Upper level classrooms are instructionally paired with science/math and English and social studies.
Primary construction was completed in just eleven months over the span of one school year and one summer. Building demolition and asbestos-hazmat abatement and bidding concurrently took place during a three- to four-month period prior to construction start. Overall, the building was constructed at no cost to taxpayers after school district restructured
Architect
McKissick Associates Architects
317 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
www.mckissickassociates.com
Project Team
Structural Engineer
Baker Ingram & Associates, Inc.
1547 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601
Civil, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
H.F. Lenz Company
1407 Scalp Avenue, Johnstown, PA 15904
General Contractor
J.C. Orr & Son, Inc.
438 7th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16603
Cost Estimator & Construction Manager
Turner Construction
925 Liberty Avenue, Fl 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Project General Description
Location: Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Date Bid: Jul 2016
Construction Period: Oct 2016 to Dec 2017
Total Square Feet: 105,067 Site: 9.61 acres
Number of Buildings: One; 40 classrooms, library, tutor rooms
Building Sizes: First floor new, 22,523; first floor renovation,
19,470; second floor new, 21,750; second floor renovation,
21,750; third floor new, 19,574; total, 105,067 square feet
Building Height: First floor, 11’8″; second floor, 12’8″; third
floor, 12’8″; total, 38’6″
Basic Construction Type: New/2A/Renovation/2B
Foundation: Cast-in-place, reinforced concrete, slab-on-
grade, insulated concrete forms
Exterior Walls: CMU, insulated concrete forms, brick, curtain
wall, manufactured stone
Roof: Membrane. Floors: Precast; cast-in-place concrete
Interior Walls: CMU, metal stud drywall
KBTU/SF/yr: 48.1 for this design vs. 100.9 for a reference building
BNi ACCESS™ Square Foot Case Number EU260340
To access the project cost data in BNi ACCESS™ Square Foot, enter “EU260340” into the search field on your main dashboard.
