Construction of a new performing arts center on the Logan campus, which was supposed to be underway by now, instead will start after the winter break at the earliest.
Part of the blame for the delay belongs to the Department of the State Architect, which must approve the architectural plans for the center, but hasn't yet done so.
Construction "was supposed to start in the summer, but everything has been delayed as the design is still at the DSA," Principal Don Montoya told The Courier.
An artist's conception of the performing arts center.
NHUSD image The theater, with an estimated cost of $14.2 million, and the instructional space, estimated at $7.4 million, will be paid for with funds from Measure A, the $120 million facilities bond passed by district voters in 2003. This project does not qualify for state matching funds.
At the end of the last school year, teachers were told that the staff parking lot adjacent to Judson E. Taylor Field would be closed to accommodate construction of performing center.
Once construction of the project gets underway, the staff parking lot will be moved across the street into the main parking lot. Additional parking for staff behind the 100s building will also be available.
The new performing arts center will have features such as a 625-seat theater, drama rooms, band rooms, choir rooms, green rooms, and it will also house the football field press box. The current one will be removed. The new press box is tall enough to allow those inside to see the whole field.
When the new building is built, the daily bell schedule once again will have to be adjusted since there will be classes in the new buildings and it will take longer to get over there.
"From when the construction starts on the performing arts center, it will be 18 months before it is completed," said Montoya. The design has already won a couple of architectural design awards.
"The new building will be gorgeous," said drafting teacher Richard Lawrence.
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