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High school auditorium, cafeteria and field house show steady progress, district staff say
Summary
Facilities staff gave the Amherst County School Board a multi-part construction update, reporting new windows and doors installed, auditorium and stage rigging nearing completion, bathrooms and plumbing progressing, and upcoming trench work for the field house water and sewer lines.
Facilities staff told the Amherst County School Board that construction at Amherst High School is progressing on multiple fronts, including storefront windows, interior doors, the auditorium rigging and the new field house.
The update given by a district facilities staff member said the storefront glass and window framework near the cafeteria entrance are in place and that additional exterior and roll-up doors — including one into the band room — have recently been installed. “As Doctor Hoad mentioned, we continue to show progress on, on both facilities,” the staff member said.
District staff described work inside the addition: bathroom framing and fixtures are being installed, with one bathroom area laid out to include about 16 sinks, stalls around the back wall and columns for drains; corridor framework for cabinets and display cases is complete; the auditorium’s lighting and ceiling framework are being finished and stage rigging and electronic controls have been installed. Staff said sheetrock work above the stage is underway and contractors will check fit and systems before ceiling tiles go in. In the former gym area, existing bathrooms have been reconfigured so one side will become storage and the other side family bathrooms.
The field house shows nearly complete framing, with plumbing roughed in for locker rooms and restrooms and concession stand openings installed. Staff said trench work to install the field house waterline and sewer lines should begin when weather permits and that marking for field lighting is scheduled with contractors. Bids are being solicited for indoor turf in the field house and the district expects the trench and related site work to take about a month when crews are on site.
Officials also noted some schedule impacts from snow and standing water; several trades had limited access this week because of weather. Staff said epoxy flooring work in some areas is expected in the coming weeks and that a large drop-down projection screen for the auditorium is already on site.
Why it matters: the pieces described — exterior glazing and doors, auditorium systems, plumbing and the field house utilities — are critical to completing the high school addition and bringing new instructional and athletic spaces online. The board asked technical questions about data/AV racks and where AV and transformer equipment would be located; staff said data and electrical control panels are adjacent and final equipment placement is pending installation.
District staff invited questions about the schedule and noted that some work remains weather-dependent. The report did not include a final occupancy date; staff gave timing estimates for short-term tasks (windows in one to two weeks; a month for the trench work) but did not set a formal substantial completion date.
Board members thanked staff and asked for continued updates as indoor finishes and systems are commissioned.
Ending: Staff said they will continue to provide photo progress reports and will bring additional schedule details to future meetings as weather and contractor sequencing allow.
