Cleveland High School gym construction bid approved

photo Empty space remains where Cleveland High School's Raider Dome stood for about 50 years. The structure, which contained the school's gymnasium, was closed in December after it scored poorly in a structural analysis. Construction of a new gymnasium is expected to begin in October.
photo Martin Ringstaff

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - After a couple weeks of tweaking plans, Cleveland City Schools and Tri-Con Construction have reached an agreement that will keep a new gym for Cleveland High School within its $11 million budget.

The new gym, projected to be completed by December 2015, will replace the high school's 50-year-old gymnasium, which was closed last December and leveled this summer.

On Thursday, the city school board voted 7-0 to approve Tri-Con's $9.798 million bid on the project and another estimated $151,900 for add-ons such as landscaping, acoustical panels and technology cabling.

More than $1 million already is allocated to the project, including $588,000 for architectural fees and $462,000 for demolition of the old gym and other costs.

"We're very pleased at the extremely tedious and long work of all involved to get the price down," said Dr. Martin Ringstaff, director of Cleveland City Schools.

The bid approved by the school board stemmed from a preliminary proposal of "value engineering" changes to the original construction project, which was trimmed down from Tri-Con's initial bid of $11.425 million.

Key aspects remain unchanged, including seating capacity for 2,700 people, with space for several hundred more on the floor and upper walking level.

Major changes include using a gas-based rather than water-based heating and air conditioning system, said Hal Taylor, supervisor of maintenance and transportation for the school system.

That and other mechanical-related savings reduced the approved bid package by $452,407, according to a presentation given to the board.

Another $392,000 was cut by dropping plans for a new lobby, some extra restroom areas and other spaces.

Eliminating aluminum canopies connecting the gym and the science wing saved $155,000, and omitting exterior metal sunshades for gym windows saved another $73,000.

Ringstaff said many other changes were cosmetic "cost-effective moves" that still allow the gym to have the same look.

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The school board also approved a request by Autumn O'Bryan, the school's principal, to include weight room space in the contingency plans for potential add-ons.

Converting old locker space to a weight room was estimated to cost $40,000 to $50,000.

The weight room space is used throughout the school day, O'Bryan said.

"It's our No. 1 priority from a school level," she said. "We are drowning [without it]."

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

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