Academy Insider

For our first blog post about construction, we went straight to Doug Bennett, Director of Facilities and Grounds, who is overseeing the largest physical transformation at Columbus Academy since the school moved to Cherry Bottom Road in 1968. The current multi-phase project that involves all three divisions of the school began just hours after our 2015 Commencement ceremony ended in early June. Here’s his take on how things are progressing.

Q: How are your overall feelings about the project so far?

A: There were some disappointing delays at the beginning of the summer because of weather issues and permit requirements, but things finally got rolling. As with every big construction project, the initial site work uncovered issues that could not be anticipated that we have had to deal with. For example, the front extension of Van Syckel Hall (Middle School) wasn’t moving forward as quickly as the Dennett Hall (Upper School) wing because of an unforeseen situation where literally tons of gravel was falling out from underneath the sidewalk and walkway connecting the Middle School to Academy Hall as foundation work started there. In order not to undermine the foundation, we had to immediately stop that work and replace all the dirt that had been dug out to help re-stabilize that area. That caused us to remove a portion of that walkway in a different way than had been planned and also remove an extra portion of the walkway so that we can safely dig the foundation of Dennett Hall. That’s just one example of the unexpected issues we’ve encountered, but overall things are going well.

Q: Will the new areas in the Lower School (PreK classroom, LS office, art room, after-school space) be ready for the opening day of school in less than two weeks?

A: I’m happy with how that is moving. We’re finishing up the painting, cabinetry, flooring and lighting in those rooms. In fact, today we plan to bring the furniture back so that the teachers can start reassembling their rooms. We expect completion of those rooms early next week, and they’re going to look great.

Q: How has the school dealt with the required removal of trees in some of the work areas?

A: We have been working with a certified arborist to move as many of the trees as we could save. For now, in the area where the swing set used to be behind the dining hall, we’ve placed as many of the magnolia trees as we could, as well as some of the birches and a large pine. Our hope is to relocate those to the Lazarus Courtyard when it’s finished. We also did a similar thing in the bus circle, and it was quite interesting to see how the trees were prepared for the move and the special machinery that was required. Admittedly, it’s risky for the trees but we’re trying to save as many as we can.

Q: What steps have been taken to ensure safety for those on campus?

A: Well, obviously quite a bit of fencing and signage has gone up to cordon off the work areas. We’ve also added an extra security detail for the day shift throughout the construction phase. As for the contractors, each one of them has gone through their company’s background checks and has signed a document that they will abide by a set of rules established by the school for their conduct while on campus. They are also required to have a special Academy decal on the back left-hand area of their hardhats to signify that they belong on the site.

Q: What should we expect to see construction-wise in the coming weeks?

A: First, all work in the Lower School will be completed. You’ll see walls actually go up next to the Upper School and noticeable foundation work to the front of the Middle School. A nice, new bus circle will be completed by the end of next week. There’s already a new sidewalk going from the new bus drop-off platform to the Lower School. Unfortunately the ramp to the theater lobby can’t be reinstalled until the spring because the work to the front of the Middle School has to be completed first. In September, we’ll see a new 20-foot-wide sidewalk running from the dining hall to the Upper School drop-off loop that will allow for the foundation of the new Dining Hall addition to begin, which I know a lot of people are excited about.

Q: What message would you like to convey to our families to help them get through this construction phase?

A: I would ask for patience and an understanding that construction of this kind takes significant time and a positive outlook on the part of everyone involved. Please just keep in mind that it will not last forever. The school year is going to fly by as they always do, and at the end, it’s going to be fantastic. The results will be great for everyone, especially our students.