North Allegheny board hears progress update on multi-school construction, Nash pool and intermediate-school plans

North Allegheny School District officials and their design team on June 3 outlined progress on an extensive capital program that includes renovations and additions at three elementary schools, a relocated pool and auditorium work at Nash High School, and a new North Allegheny Intermediate (NAI) School.

"I will tell you at this time next year we should have be well underway with construction in our elementary schools and hopefully the new pool at Nash," Superintendent Dr. Highland said as he introduced the presentation. The district’s lead architect, Mr. Shrader of the Shrader Group, and colleagues walked the board through plans, images and phasing maps.

The architects said the three elementary schools are concluding the design-development phase and remain "on target." Nash is about a month behind on design after a reconfiguration and the pool relocation, but presenters said construction start dates are expected to remain on schedule. Michelle of Site Logic said the Nash schematic design is nearly complete and the team is coordinating site circulation and safety measures because the site is tight.

Design detail ranged from classroom standardization and admin-entrance upgrades at HOAC, Ingamar and Peebles to Large Group Instruction (LGI) additions and interior finish packages. The team emphasized a consistent material language across schools while preserving each building’s identity.

At Nash, presenters said they are finalizing auditorium restroom and lighting work, scheduling acoustical testing, addressing kitchen equipment needs and refining pool aesthetics and layout. The plan for the relocated pool includes enlarged spectator seating and an opening to connect two pool spaces; presenters said pool closures will be scheduled after swim seasons to minimize disruption.

For the NAI replacement, the team showed a schematic that places athletics and expanded gym space on one end, a three-story classroom wing on the other and a career-and-technology complex alongside multiple "commons" (dining, classroom and career/innovation spaces) organized around courtyards intended for both circulation and outdoor project work. Presenters said the NAI schematic is currently about 263,000 square feet.

The designers stressed phasing and site logistics: contractors will be contractually required to follow a color-coded critical-path plan so additions and summer renovations are completed in sequence and schools are ready for the following academic year. They also described contractor parking plans, temporary loss and return of parking, and potential utility relocations to reduce construction impacts on athletics and daily operations.

Student input informed courtyard and circulation planning. "We met with the students on April 14 and again this morning," the architect said, and that feedback shaped outdoor access, covered walkways for inclement weather, and how commons spaces can be used for project-based learning.

Budget milestones: the design-development (DD) cost estimates for the elementary projects and Nash will be completed and presented to the board on Aug. 5, alongside the NAI schematic estimate. The team said they have prepared a prioritized list of alternates so that bid day offers options to add or subtract scope depending on actual construction pricing.

What happens next: district staff and the design team will finalize DD drawings and cost estimates and return to the board on Aug. 5 with documents intended to inform bidding and final scope decisions. The board will also continue coordination on circulation and traffic engineering to reduce impacts on surrounding streets.