New space could be open to students by early January
By John Tredrea
A, $11.2 million major addition to Timberlane Middle School is expected to be finished in six weeks, the project’s construction manager reported at Monday night’s school board meeting.
Chris Leyerberger, of the Yardley, Pa., firm of Centerline Associates, told the board in his monthly project management update that the addition is weather tight and secure, with its roof about 85 percent complete.
All brickwork is done, he said. Nearly finished is the installation of electrical devices in ceilings and walls. Installation of lockers in the corridors was expected to be finished this week.
All exterior concrete work should be finished in early December.
Timberlane’s renovated kitchen has been operational since Oct. 17. Renovated locker rooms were done Oct. 16. New computer labs opened Nov. 13.
John Nemeth, school district business administrator, said Tuesday that the price tag for the Timberlane project is $11,282,456.
Work on the addition is close to being on schedule. Mr. Leyerberger said in July that the entire Timberlane project was scheduled for completion by December.
A year ago, Mr. Leyerberger said that if all went according to plan, the Timberlane job should be completely done, with a certificate of occupancy issued by the Hopewell Township construction office, on Jan. 7, 2007.
"This still is the target date," Mr. Nemeth said Tuesday. If the architect, Prisco Group, of Hopewell, is able to sign off on the project on Dec. 28, as hoped, officials would go for the certificate of occupancy. Mr. Nemeth does not think the new space will be available for use on Jan. 2 when students return from winter break. The next week is more likely, he said.
The Timberlane expansion was the largest component of the $15.5 million referendum approved by Valley voters on Sept. 28, 2004. It includes: 10 new classrooms, including two science labs and a larger band room; a new gym, expanded locker rooms and offices; conversion of a small auditorium into two computer labs; renovation of two sets of student lavatories; retrofitted gym bleachers to comply with a state mandate; expanded space for the school nurse; and a renovated kitchen.
The actual construction contract, primarily for the Timberlane addition, was awarded to the Berlin-based firm of Dandrea Construction by the school board in November 2005.
Also in progress now is renovation of bleachers at the Central High School gymnasium. The renovation recently was modified to better accommodate the wrestling mat rack. "That made for a much safer installation," Mr. Leyerberger said.

