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South Fayette updates: intermediate school shell enclosed, pool repairs nearing completion; primary school and bus garage on track for 2026 starts
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Summary
Draw Collective and district project staff reported progress on the intermediate school addition, middle school pool, the new K–2 primary building and a bus garage. Work continues on masonry, structural steel and mechanical systems; several change orders are pending.
Draw Collective and district project staff gave the South Fayette School Board an update on ongoing construction and planning for multiple campus projects, reporting that the intermediate school addition is enclosed, the middle school pool is refilled and the primary school and bus garage are moving through permitting toward 2026 construction starts.
The intermediate school project is in multiple phased areas. Project staff said Area C is enclosed and the roof is dry; interior framing and mechanical-electrical-plumbing rough-in are underway. Brick and masonry work fell short of the contractor’s goal to complete the shell before students returned, but crews have advanced the brickwork to the first ground-face block band at the roof line. The district said the playground remains closed and is expected to reopen “early October” if current progress continues.
The three-story single-classroom addition (referred to in the presentation as the orange three-story addition) has structural steel erected; staff said detailing continues and slab-on-grade and slab-on-deck pours are expected in the coming weeks. For another addition (Area D/Phase 2), foundations and bulk excavation are ongoing; the general contractor issued a revised schedule showing an October 24 target for structural steel to arrive on site.
Jason, a project representative who spoke during the meeting, said the report includes financial pages showing change orders to date, pending estimated change orders and payment summaries. He told the board, “Please stop me if you have any questions related to the report.” The presentation noted two change orders on the board agenda: a revised playground scope (to have the general contractor repair construction damage, seal the playground and restripe courts) reduced to about $13,000, and several small administrative-level changes (metal furring for a column cover and casework revisions). A pending estimated change-order column in the summary report was listed at $81,002.66; the presenter said that figure includes the $13,000 playground work and other pending/estimated values, and that a larger bulk-excavation change order with Bridal/Glancy remains to be finalized.
Project photos provided to the board showed the orchestra-room addition with scaffolding, the chiller set on the roof (placed in late July with controls activated the week of Aug. 11), interior demolition and a recently poured slab for slab-on-deck work. The presenter noted that contractor Craig Glancy is providing weekly drone photos for reporting.
Ryan Snodgrass of Draw Collective gave updates on additional projects. He said the middle school pool renovation is nearly complete: the pool is refilled, boiler and exhaust fan systems are in place and pool chemistry has been confirmed; the remaining item is an air-handling unit expected on Oct. 3. Snodgrass said the district expects students to use the pool after the Labor Day holiday, consistent with the schedule discussed previously.
On the new primary (K–2) campus, Draw Collective reported that the geotechnical survey is ongoing and that the land-development submission went to South Fayette Township on Sept. 13. The presentation listed a planning commission hearing on Sept. 25 and a township board-of-commissioners hearing on Oct. 8. Draw Collective said it will submit the NPDES permit (filed through the Allegheny County Conservation District) the week after the board meeting; the team expects design development complete next week, construction documents in December, bidding in January–February, and construction to begin in 2026 with an estimated 28-month schedule to completion.
The bus garage and maintenance building are at a similar planning stage: land submissions and traffic-engineering reviews have been completed, a traffic study is underway at the start of the school year, and Draw Collective said bidding is planned for fall with construction aimed to start in 2026 on an approximately 18–20 month schedule.
Board members asked for details about where the People Services building would be relocated if the road and bus-garage plan require its move; Snodgrass said staff were waiting for the traffic study to determine whether relocation is necessary and that temporary options exist while a long-term plan is developed.
The presentation included a small casework change order for recessed conference-room cabinetry (removal of tall cabinets and installation of base cabinets for door openings). The presenter said doors for that area were not yet on site.
Why it matters: These projects affect building access, student play areas and the phasing and cash flow of a multi-year capital program. Board members received specific near-term milestone dates (air-handling unit arrival, steel delivery targets, and township hearing dates) and a summary of pending change orders that will affect the project contingency and cash flow.
Photos and financial backup pages were included in the monthly packet provided to trustees but were not read verbatim during the meeting. The construction presentation began during the facility-update portion of the board meeting and concluded before the regular agenda.
