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Published on 11/24/1997 All articles from this issue

Next for HS renovations: Science and art buildings

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By Linda Taaffe

Town Crier Staff Writer

Construction of the new science and art complexes at the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District is scheduled to begin this month. The board of trustees began accepting bids Nov. 14 and was expected to select a contractor Monday.

Superintendent Rich Fischer said five contractors had bid below the estimated $11.6 million project cost as of Nov. 19. Fischer said four contractors had bided for projects at each school.

"We've had a good response," Fischer said. "I'm really pleased to see such an interest in the work."

Fischer said the district was concerned that the contractors might bid over the estimated cost as had happened in the past. For the utility project in June 1996, the only responding contractor had bid $500,000 above the estimated utility project costs.

Fischer said he credits last week's positive response to the architect for putting together a good package.

The science and art buildings are part of the five year, $58 million facility renovation project that began in 1996. Architect Mary Morris of the Steinberg Group designed the art and science complexes to accommodate the latest technology. The complexes at each campus will include eight labs and one classroom.

Fischer said the first three construction projects included in the facility plan have been completed on schedule and below budget.

"Things just keep moving ahead," Fischer said.

Renovation project C was completed last month and classes are being held in all four of the high schools' wings renovated in projects A, B and C.

Classroom renovations have included updated the buildings from ceiling to floor.

Contractors replaced old plumbing and heating devices, added new floor and roof tiles, and installed fiber optics in classrooms in wings 100 and 200 at Mountain View and wings 200 and 300 at Los Altos.

Fischer said data ports and video hook ups still need to be finished up in some of the classrooms, but all major work is complete.

"For the most part, the occupied space looks good," Fischer said.