Architects present interior-focused renovation plans for Tanner Elementary and Tanner High School

Chapman Sisson Architects presented interior-focused renovation plans for Tanner Elementary and Tanner High School at the Limestone County Board of Education meeting, saying most work will be finish upgrades with limited exterior changes and an emphasis on security and durability.

The presentation matters because the projects involve capital spending, construction phasing that affects school operations, and safety upgrades at both campuses.

Christine Robbins of Chapman Sisson said the high-school scope concentrates on the main building, the agricultural building and the gym lobby and includes new bus and car-line canopies, a new flagpole and a digital highway sign serving both campuses. "We're gonna be doing new bus drop off canopies, bus and car line drop off canopies at the front, a new flagpole and a new highway sign," Robbins said. The architects proposed enlarging the main lobby by removing interior walls, installing a new reception area with a clear line of sight to the front door, replacing existing vinyl composition tile (VCT) floors with stained concrete in high-traffic corridors, and installing LVT in other areas.

Architects described classroom and specialty-room upgrades including new millwork, LED lighting, new whiteboards, furniture, and upgraded science lab tables configured so students face the instruction wall. Robbins said the cafeteria will receive stained concrete to allow a floor pattern and updated lighting and ceilings. The media center will receive carpet tile and new furniture. In the Ag Building, the home economics space will get new millwork and appliances and portions of CMU walls will be removed to open sight lines.

Security upgrades discussed include a redesigned reception desk with improved visibility to the front entry, relocation and glass for the SRO (school resource officer) office to provide an interior window view of the lobby, and reflective window film so staff can see out while limiting views inside. Architects said primary and secondary exterior doors will have access controls but must remain free for egress.

On phasing and schedule, Chapman Sisson said the elementary design would be submitted to DCM (Division of Construction Management) the week after the meeting with an anticipated bid in about a month and a hoped-for February bid date; the high school would follow about a month later with an expected March bid. "We are pushing to get both of these projects started this summer," Robbins said, and she estimated the high-school work will likely require two summers to complete. The team said they planned to bid the two projects separately to improve contractor availability and capacity.

Board members asked detailed questions about classroom layouts, science-lab seating capacity and storage. Architects said they would install workstations with power and water at science tables and cap unused gas lines. On furniture and classroom counts, Robbins referenced existing capacity and said furniture choices could permit stations to be adjusted to accommodate more students if needed.

The board did not take formal action on the designs at the meeting; architects indicated further administrative approvals and bidding steps would follow the DCM submission and the district's procurement process.

Planning and next steps include final DCM submission for the elementary, bidding in late winter/early spring, contractor selection, and phased construction beginning in summer. The architects said most of the work is interior and does not increase building footprints; limited exterior canopy and signage work is planned.