SEELEY LAKE - CTA Architects Engineers (CTA) of Great Falls, Mont. met with Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) representatives and members of Alpine Artisans Inc. Thursday, Feb. 18 to finalize the design plans for the addition of the Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) stage and other safety features that will be installed.
The MCPS High School bond that was approved last November funds the renovations and addition. CTA expects construction will begin June 11 and be nearly complete by the time school gets back in session in the fall, Aug. 28.
Security and other maintenance improvements highlights for SSHS included:
• A main entrance vestibule: Card key access and security window with a pass-through for office personnel to be able to see students and visitors and buzz them in when required.
• Library entrance vestibule (back of the school): Wheelchair accessible (ADA accessible) that allows for public access to the library through one set of doors and card key access to the school through another. There will be a camera and buzz system that allows someone from the office to buzz in members of the public if necessary.
• A unisex restroom that will be located off the back of the library and shared with the stage. This eliminates the need for the public to go into the school to use the restroom.
• Classroom wing security gates: Principal Dr. Kathleen Pecora recommended that metal gates were not needed to close off the hallways since they are so short. No one disagreed. This allows two sets of lockers to be maintained. The security gates were removed from the plan.
• The old boiler will be replaced with two boilers that operate at 60 percent and share the load. The ventilator units in the classrooms will also be replaced.
Highlights of the plan for the stage addition and small gym included:
• Two wing classrooms. One has access to two single practice rooms and a group practice room. The other includes a closet for instrument storage.
• The stage will be 816 square feet with 287 square feet for set design and storage directly behind the stage.
• The stage will be complete with a lighting bank that is fixed with a cage around it and a sound system. The sound system can be upgraded in the future should the school and/or community want to provide the additional funding.
• Curtains will be used instead of doors to keep the stage closed from the gym. Cameras will be installed for security and the curtains will be able to be locked down to ensure only authorized people have access.
• Four large windows will be installed on the east side of the gym to allow for more natural light.
• Lights in the gym will be upgraded.
CTA anticipates advertising the call for bids for the project starting March 18 for two weeks. It will be advertised in the Missoulian, the Pathfinder and available through the Building Exchange in Missoula.
Dr. Pecora expressed the community’s concern that local contractors have the opportunity to bid on the project.
“Everybody has equal opportunity to put in on the project and if everyone locally is competitive they can get all the work they want,” said Shane Swandel the program manager for the bond project for MCPS. “This is a public project and we bid publicly. If they are local they should be able to compete better than anybody because they won’t have to travel. They should be the most competitive locally.”
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