Posted: Aug. 25, 2009 |(0) Comments

Students returning to Brookfield East and Central high schools Tuesday will find brand new gymnasiums, but they will also notice open ceilings and missing floor tiles as workers reach the halfway point on a $62.2 million renovation project.

Work will continue throughout the school year, but noise disruption will be minimal, said Rob Stieg, principal at Boldt Consulting Services and owner's representative for the Elmbrook School District.

"For the summer, it was a construction site. Now, it's a school," Stieg said.

"(Construction) won't interrupt school. If it does, we stop, and we move it to a different shift."

There is plenty of work to be done. Stieg said crews will perform small demolition projects in addition to quieter work like painting and tiling.

East Principal Brett Bowers said he expects noise levels this year to be similar to those of last year. Some early demolition occurred in the spring, which he said went largely unnoticed.

Rotating classrooms

Six classrooms at a time will be renovated, forcing teachers and students to use alternate locations for a period of about six weeks. When work is finished, students will return to their original classroom, which will by then be fully revamped.

The entire process should be finished by late spring.

Stieg worked with the principals at both buildings to schedule the rotation in a way that minimizes disruption.

What happened this summer

The noisiest work is scheduled for summer, when the schools are empty of students.

This summer, crews worked on heating and cooling system replacement; cafeteria updates; asbestos abatement; installation of doors, windows and flooring; locker room construction; site work; metal work and interior demolition. The old gym at East and the auxiliary gym at Central were converted into classroom space. Outside, brand new gymnasiums and lobbies were finished.

Central Principal Don Labonte said he is eager for students to return and see the improvements.

"I think that's very exciting to see," he said.

Bowers said he thinks district residents will be surprised how much of the work has been finished.

For example, renovations to the school's fine arts wing are finished, and half of its science labs have been updated. Because of all the changes, the school is altering its room numbering system, which Bowers said will make things interesting.

"Everybody's going to have a lot of adjusting to do, in that sense," he said. "I think for a few days everyone is going to feel like a freshman, adults and students both."

One year to go

Next summer will bring another construction blitz as workers take advantage of empty buildings. During that time, crews will install Smart Boards in every classroom and refurbish the remaining science classrooms as well as the libraries, guidance offices, main offices, kitchens and front entrances.

The project is on budget and on schedule, Stieg said. Construction is expected to finish in time for the start of the 2010-11 school year.