District staff weigh site options and cost estimates for special-needs school and district office
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Summary
Facilities staff presented options for a standalone 44,000 sq ft special‑needs school, a combined 124,000 sq ft elementary+special‑needs option, and alternative 12‑acre sites; staff gave rough cost guidance (a high-end estimate near $425–$450/sq ft) and said design would take months before summer groundbreaking could be possible.
District facilities staff presented site options and planning considerations to the Timpanogos School District board on Jan. 28, laying out tradeoffs for the Geneva, Windsor and Sharon sites and offering high-level cost guidance for building a special-needs facility.
The staffer said a standalone special-needs building similar in combined square footage to Horizon School would be about 44,000 square feet; a paired elementary-plus-special-needs configuration was shown at about 124,000 square feet on the Geneva footprint. "I have a slide representing $450 a square foot," the presenter said, noting that figure was a conservative, worst-case estimate intended to encompass demo, FF&E and unforeseen costs.
Why it matters: Board members emphasized parking, pickup/drop-off logistics and preserving green/playfield space. Facilities staff flagged that the Geneva footprint fits a special school but that combining two schools on that site would be "tight" for parking and play area; a Windsor site with about 12 acres offers more flexibility for parking, entrances and play space.
Timing and process: Staff said design would take several months and that the earliest realistic timeframe to break ground was the upcoming summer; accelerated one-year build schedules are possible but would require rapid design decisions and staging (for example, temporarily moving Windsor students into Sharon while construction occurs). The presenter also noted an approximate demo cost for an old school at about $1 million based on past estimates.
Board guidance requested: Staff asked the board whether to pursue design and, if so, how quickly. Board members expressed urgency and asked facilities to identify 12‑acre alternatives and to scope boundary or consolidation implications before committing to any site.
Ending: Facilities staff will provide slide packets and follow up on parking, UTA routing and access agreements, and work with the board on an accelerated schedule if directed.