×

Demolition of the old Warren High School began Tuesday

Photo by Art Smith Workmen prepare to use two large track hoes to demolish building 5 at the old Warren High School Wednesday morning.

At a glance:

¯ Demolition of the old Warren High School began Tuesday.

¯ Substantial completion for demolition of buildings 1, 3, 4 and 5 is Aug. 1.

¯ Majority of work on the new high school is complete.

¯ Substantial completion date for middle school work is Nov. 1.

Source: Warren Local School District.

Heavy equipment fired up Tuesday afternoon on the Warren school campus as demolition crews from Raze International prepared to take down the former Warren High School.

Warren Local Schools Superintendent Kyle Newton said the same company that is working on the high school also tore down the former Warren and Little Hocking elementaries.

“They were done super fast,” he said. “They were done in April when the substantial completion date was in May.”

The date for the four high school buildings to be razed is Aug. 1, but Newton said he doesn’t think it will take that long.

While buildings are being demolished, other contractors are finishing up the new high school.

“Besides furniture, it looks like it’s almost done,” Newton said. The gymnasium is finished, but resonance flooring still needs installed as it takes three weeks to finish.

“It’s in the middle of the building and can’t be walked on,” he said. “Once the flooring starts, you have to stop everything.”

Starting with building 5, the crews will then take down buildings 1, 3 and 4.

“Building 6 and building 2 will remain,” he said.

Building 2 is a lab building with very few actual classrooms. At the finish of the project, it will only house an agriculture lab and some long-term storage.

“It’s not going to be used for educational space, except for after school with an event,” Newton said.

Newton said building 6 houses a gymnasium, auditorium, band and choir rooms and locker rooms. The band and choir rooms will be converted to administration offices.

The gym has new lighting, flooring and painting and will be used as a secondary or auxiliary gym.

Newton said they are talking about the possibility of having a clinic put in the north side of the building where the girls locker room is.

“Some kind of clinic is what we’re looking at. We’re still in discovery for that part,” he added.

Renovations of the middle school continue, with new exterior windows, a new roof and a fully secured office being added. The gymnasium is being converted to a cafeteria and a new gym is being constructed.

“It’s getting full sprinklers and technology in every classroom,” Newton said. “We’re changing out a lot of needed infrastructure for technology and safety.”

An HVAC replacement is also happening at the school.

“November is the substantial completion date. We’re hoping to have it done by the first week of school, which is way ahead of schedule,” he noted.

He said it’s taking a small army to make sure details they want are being attended to.

“This summer has been difficult with three contractors for the high school, middle school and stadium,” Newton said. “They have nothing to do with each other, but they have to work in the same spot.”

He said everyone is focused on one thing.

“Making sure the buildings are built to last,” he said.

The latest report released by the construction team from Barton Malow, which covered the month of April, stated there were 1,140 total workers with total labor hours of 10,337 on the different building projects for the month.

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today