Easton Area SD hears updated design, $298 million budget and timeline for proposed new high school

Consultants for the Easton Area School District presented a condensed update Wednesday evening on plans for a proposed new high school, outlining a current planning budget of $298,000,000, a multi‑phase construction schedule and near‑term design steps.

Bill, a presenter representing Alloy 5 (with CHA collaborating), said the project is being refined after the district’s recent ad hoc committee review and that the presentation was intended as a board update rather than a full design review. He said the district is targeting completion of design development in January for an ACT 34 public hearing (design development complete at that point). The consultants presented a three‑phase schedule: site and demolition (including removal of the existing swimming pool and some foundations) beginning in May 2027; construction of the new high school while the existing high school remains occupied from summer 2028 to August 2030; and demolition of the old high school and final site work through summer 2031.

The team described several site outcomes from early coordination: a site survey, geophysical investigation and a wetlands review that found no wetlands on the site. Informal meetings were held with PennDOT, Palmer Township and Eastern Suburban Water. PennDOT agreed to waive a traffic impact study because projected enrollments will remain essentially the same, though consultants said an internal traffic study of on‑site circulation will continue. The township will require roadway widening and sidewalk/tree improvements along Greenwood Avenue, William Penn and 25th Street (wording in the presentation referenced “20 Fifth Street” — the project team said these are evolving elements to be coordinated with Palmer Township). Consultants also described creating a redundant water connection to the site to improve reliability.

Bill outlined building program details shared with the ad hoc meeting: compact circulation to reduce travel distances inside the building, a three‑level portion of the building where required, a gym configured to hold about 3,000 people (the team called that the target to accommodate full student assemblies and community gatherings), a cafeteria sized to hold roughly 800 people at once, a dedicated media center with skylighting and collaboration spaces, shops/maker spaces on the lowest level and both an auditorium and a natatorium in the athletics complex. Materials concepts mentioned included precast concrete and exposed steel to control costs and a “ribbon” or red accent as a branding element; presenters said those choices aim to balance durability, cost and architectural character linked to Easton’s industrial history.

Consultants said they will continue value management and value engineering workshops with the board and public to reduce costs without sacrificing required program elements; a geotechnical study planned for July–August will refine foundation design and help narrow cost estimates. The next ad hoc meeting to dive deeper into exterior spaces was scheduled for July 8.

Board members were invited to submit questions to district staff for followup; the presenters said materials and meeting recordings will be made available to the public going forward. No vote or formal approval of design or budget occurred at the meeting; the presentation functioned as an informational update and schedule checkpoint.