Princeton school construction moving right along

Redesign of plans for Princeton High expansion and renovation at halfway point.

By: Jeff Milgram
   Footings and foundations have been laid and building supplies are being stockpiled as work gets under way for the Princeton Regional School Districts $81.3 million school renovation and expansion project.
   And The Hillier Group, the district’s architect for the project, is about halfway through its redesign of Princeton High School, school board member Michael Mostoller, chairman of the Facilities Committee, told the board at its meeting Tuesday night. The redesign was made necessary when bids came in more than $13 million over budget.
   The district also will post virtual construction updates on its Web site, www.prs.k12.nj.us, beginning in about a month, Mr. Mostoller said.
   The footings and foundations for the $3.2 million indoor swimming pool at the John Witherspoon Middle School have been laid and excavation work has begun for the academic wing, he said.
   "We’re proceeding with the construction in good order," said Mr. Mostoller, an architect.
   Contractors are stockpiling pipe for the storm drainage system in the front of the school.
   The district broke ground on all four elementary schools March 17 and on the middle school two days later.
   Mr. Mostoller said Hillier is scheduled to complete its redesign of PHS by the end of June and the project should be put out to bid by the middle of July. Bids would be opened in August.
   
   "It’s a much simpler building," Mr. Mostoller said of the redesign. "We’re going to like it."
   The elementary school projects will take about 14 months to complete; the middle school project, two years; and the high school construction, three years.
   "We realize this is a very ambitious schedule requiring diligent planning, continuous communication and vigilant oversight," the school district said on its Web site. "To help the board do this, we are setting up individual committees at each school comprised of parents, staff and neighbors to meet on a regular basis with the construction management team.
   "Together we will discuss the project schedules to ensure minimal educational disruption for students and staff as well as ensuring the comfort and safety of the students, staff and neighbors during construction," the Web site posting continued. "We will continue working closely with our municipal leaders regarding traffic and parking as well as any other related issues."
   With construction under way, the board’s Finance Committee is taking a close look at the spending for the facilities project. "The facilities budget is tight," said Joshua Leinsdorf, a member of the Finance Committee. "There is enough money, but just enough. The district doesn’t have a dime to spare."
   On May 15, 2001, voters overwhelmingly approved the project, which was scheduled to begin in September but was pushed back by changes in the site plan at PHS and Littlebrook.
   Voters approved spending more than $57 million in taxpayers’ money. The state will contribute about $19 million, Princeton University has promised $500,000 to turn the PHS auditorium into a library and the board will use $2.3 million of the district’s surplus for the project.
   The expansion work at the elementary schools is, for the most part, common to all four buildings.
   Riverside is getting a new library, a music room, a music ensemble room, a science room and two kindergarten classrooms. Johnson Park is getting four classrooms and a redesigned office and nurses suite.
   Community Park is getting four additional classrooms, a redesigned library and an expanded cafeteria. And Littlebrook is getting a new gym, an art room and a science room.