Location: 
Alma, Kansas
Total Square Feet: 34,725
Construction Period: Nov 2001 to Jan 2003 

Construction Team
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER: Universal Construction Company, Inc. - 11200 W. 79th Street, Lenexa, KS 66214
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Finney & Turnipseed, PA - 603 S.W. Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, KS 66603
ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEER: Latimer, Sommers & Associates, P.A. - 3639 S.W. Summerfield Drive, #A, Topeka, KS 66614
COST ESTIMATOR: Universal Construction Company, Inc. - 11200 W. 79th Street, Lenexa, KS 66214

After four previous bond referendums held throughout the 1990's failed, the fifth attempt proved to be successful when taxpayers in the Mill Creek Valley Unified School District No. 329 voted in November, 2000 to approve a $6.9 million bond issue to pay for improvements to the District's school buildings. R. M. Hansen Design Company was selected as the District's architect by the Board of Education.

A construction manager advisor was also selected to manage the project. The addition to the high school was the largest of the projects and would take the longest to construct. The work for the high school project was divided into a total of 29 subcontractor bid packages.

The program for the high school building called for a regulation sized gymnasium with seating for 1,400, a commons area that would also serve as a cafeteria, a serving kitchen and concessions area, dual purpose locker rooms (varsity and P.E.), a fitness center that could be used by the community, a music room, two science labs and a computer lab.

Fitting the program requirements of nearly 35,000 square feet of new construction on the small two acre, narrow and sloping urban site, with two existing buildings proved to be the primary design challenge on this project.

The Architect met that challenge with a design solution that wraps the classrooms around the existing gymnasium and arranges the other major building elements in a linear fashion between property lines on the double city block. An existing lobby and concession area attached to the existing gym were demolished to make room for the classrooms. An interior ramp provides a transition in elevation following the slope of the site from north to south between the elevation of the existing gymnasium and new classrooms down to the elevation of the commons area and new gymnasium.

The new gymnasium, constructed of pre-engineered metal building systems and sheathed in metal siding, is between the commons and classrooms to the north, and the locker rooms and fitness center to the south. Both of these elements are constructed with conventional load bearing block and brick veneer. EIFS with the same color as the natural stone on the original high school building is used to highlight the entrances and help tie the new construction to the existing 1937 school building.

Materials for interior finishes were selected based on both their durability and cost. Where concrete masonry units might otherwise be found, high abuse gypsum board on metal studs was specified instead. This material is installed on the walls in the classroom corridor and in the gymnasium everywhere except the lower portion of the walls at each end of the main basketball court. Acoustical panels were applied and a perforated metal ceiling installed to improve acoustics in the gym.

The entire complex is a source of community pride, but the fitness center, available for community use after hours has drawn the most interest. Lots of glazing on its southern exposure fills the high ceiling space with natural light. A rubber floor, mirrors mounted on all four walls, two television monitors and the latest in fitness equipment facilitates and encourages use by both students and the community at large.

MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS
DIV 04: Masonry: Glen Gery.
DIV 07: EIFS: Degussa Wall Systems; EPDM: Carlisle-Syntec; Manufactured Roofing & Siding: Varco Prudent.
DIV 08: Windows, Doors: Manko.
DIV 09: Carpet: J & J; Vinyl: Tarkett; Resinous: General Polymers; Wood: Robbins Sports Surfaces; Rubber Flooring: Tuflex; Metal Studs: Dietrich; Acoustical Panels: Tectum.