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Design team shows Bedford High renderings, timeline for 2028 move-in
Summary
GPD and Panzika Construction presented a 175,000-square-foot design for the new Bedford High School, including career‑tech spaces, a 560‑seat auditorium and phased demolition/parking work; bid documents are expected April–May 2026 with occupancy targeted for 2028.
Russell Gayhart of design firm GPD and Chris Montgomery of Panzika Construction presented the design‑development package for the new Bedford High School, describing building layout, community input and a phased construction timeline.
"Tonight's fully dedicated to conversations about the high school," Gayhart told the board, outlining a roughly 175,000‑square‑foot building planned for the north side of the campus and noting bid documents would be ready in April–May 2026. He said abatement and demolition work will begin soon and that the district aims for the new high school to open for students in 2028.
The presentation highlighted exterior and interior renderings, an integrated career‑technical program with public‑facing entrances (cosmetology, culinary), a proposed 560‑seat auditorium and a 302‑seat dining area sized for a 904‑student building. Gayhart said the design intentionally ties brick patterns to nearby projects and municipal buildings to create a cohesive campus feel.
Board members asked technical questions about roof design and maintenance. Gayhart said the roofs are low‑slope (not dead‑flat), use tapered insulation and rely on internal and overflow drains with secondary drainage to prevent ponding and reduce long‑term maintenance.
The presentation included community engagement results: nearly 500 survey responses with a plurality favoring a modern, contemporary exterior. Gayhart and Montgomery said the project team worked with faculty and students on interior planning to support inclusion and flexible career‑tech instruction.
No formal approval of the design development phase was recorded in the meeting minutes; the presentation served as an update and preparation for later board action. The district and design team said bid documents will be shared with the board and construction manager as the project moves into the construction‑document phase.
