1999 Addition and Remodeling
Madrid, Iowa  

Project Manager: Scott Shriver

Superintendent: Judd Harmer

Architectural Firm: Haila Engineering Group, Ltd.

Contract Amount: $1,961,074.00

Completion Date: September 2000

Project Description:

The overall project was undertaken due to a fire that destroyed the original 1915 wing of the school.  A bond issue was passed and, along with the insurance proceeds, was used to raze the 1925 wing and provide funds for the construction of new facilities onto the remaining portion of the building.  The razing of the two structures left the existing building with just two major levels and one small area on another level.

This project consisted of demolition of part of the existing building (not removed during main demolition to protect existing facility against the elements), construction of two new wings and a renovation of portions of the existing building.  One addition houses the new kindergarten classrooms, while the other addition houses classrooms, a new lunchroom and kitchen, new public restroom facilities, and a wheel chair lift that makes the entire facility fully accessible.  Portions of the existing building were renovated to provide a new art room and special education rooms as well as numerous fire code updates.  New windows were installed in most of the existing classrooms with some windows requiring additional work to widen the openings for egress windows.  The exterior of the existing gymnasium was given a facelift with a new roof, new EIFS façade, and new windows.

The heart of the project was the lunchroom with its large expanse of glass and high ceilings giving it a very open feel.  A terrace area was located directly outside the lunchroom windows with two sets of stairs leading to a new sidewalk along the beautiful tree lined street.  Terrazzo flooring was installed in the lunchroom, kitchen, corridors, and restrooms for long term maintenance and beauty.  The mixture of brick masonry and split faced colored concrete block combined to create a visually pleasing and impressive appearance to the structure.

Unusual or Unique Features:

Removal of the remaining portions of previously demolished building wings was especially sensitive.  The existing stair tower had been left to prevent flooding of the remaining building lower floor through the stairs.  Removal required careful preparation to assure water tightness until the new stair and roof assembly was in place.  The hallway adjacent to the existing cafeteria had also been left to provide access for students to the cafeteria.  Removal necessitated providing alternate access to the cafeteria along with careful removal of the hallway so as not to effect the usage of the cafeteria.

Further complicating the project at the onset was the fact that the boiler for the entire building had previously been housed in the now razed 1915 wing.  A new boiler had to be installed in a room under the existing gymnasium and online for the 1999-2000 heating season.  All condensate piping throughout the building had to be resloped to drain back to the new boiler, while all utilities had to be rerouted and reinstalled to facilitate the change.  An access hole had to be cut in the side of the foundation wall to allow the new boiler to be installed.  Sequencing of this work was critical because access to the area was limited and time was of the very essence.