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This is an architect’s rendering of the new Oxford High School. Bids have come in higher than expected,
causing the school board to consider scaling back some features of the new building. (COURTESY)
“We’re in the masonry phase of the job; we’ve got the lower floors (bricked) up to the second floors,” said Tim Prewitt, who oversees the work for Eley Guild Hardy, the school district’s architecture firm for the project. “We’re getting ready to pour the second-floor slabs for the two north buildings in the next couple of weeks.”
The project’s January 2014 opening target is still doable, Prewitt said, but meeting the deadline is requiring extra effort on the part of Yates Construction, the general contractor.
“We always start the schedule with float time, but the weather has used up all our float,” he said. “They’re putting on additional staff to keep the work on schedule. It’s great to have a competent contractor like Yates.”
Oxford School Board members are apparently just as happy with the work of Eley Guild Hardy. They voted unanimously on Monday to hire the firm to design an estimated $700,000 renovation that will be carried out at Oxford Elementary School this summer. The project will rework restrooms and rearrange office space and some of the unique learning space called the Oxploratorium.
“They have the capacity to get this done quickly,” said Superintendent Brian Harvey. “We’ve got to get the construction documents drawn so we can get bids let in April.”
errol.castens@journalinc.