Building upgrades could cost $10 million in West Jefferson Hills

About Stephanie Hacke

Stephanie Hacke

412-388-5818
Staff Reporter
South Hills Record

By Stephanie Hacke

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2013

A new turf and track could be installed at Thomas Jefferson High School stadium this year.

Yet, other “asset protection” projects — including new roofing, air conditioning and lighting upgrades at the district's five building, to the tune of $10 million — will be sprawled out over a 10-year period.

West Jefferson Hills School District architect Ryan Pierce presented options for improvements and upgrades needed to school facilities at a special board meeting Monday.

“Not every single loose doorknob and broken ceiling tile is on this list,” Pierce said. “Those are maintenance items that the district's maintenance department has been repairing or working on. These are the big items that require capital projects.”

A facilities master plan is under way in West Jefferson Hills. As part of that process, Pierce said his team completed an “in depth study” of all of the West Jefferson Hills' physical plans, collected public comment and used that to pinpoint building needs.

Three issues were outlined: maintaining existing facilities, addressing potential future growth and high school renovation or replacement, Pierce said. Then, goals for improvement were set.

Projects that need addressed in one or all of the district's five schools include new roofing, added air conditioning, lighting and energy changes, a new stadium turf, track and bleachers and parking improvements at Gill Hall Elementary, Pierce said.

Technology infrastructure upgrades also are needed, Pierce said. Those already have been completed at Thomas Jefferson High School and are planned for the work to be done in phases and finished by mid-2015, with a total cost for all district buildings of $1.28 million.

All of the building maintenance projects would cost an estimated total of $9.95 million, said Pierce, who suggested a timeline for completion for each project — some set to start as early as this summer.

Installation of a new turf and track at Thomas Jefferson High School could move forward this summer, with an estimated cost of $698,000.

“It's ready now,” Pierce said. “It's outlived its useful life.”

School board members could vote later this month on the project, officials said Monday.

“That field is in dire need,” board President Anthony Angotti said.

Stephanie Hacke is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-388-5818 or shacke@tribweb.com.