Sedona Red Rock High School is getting the most — dollarwise — from the $73 million bond passed in the Sedona-Oak Creek District last fall.
Although all three schools in the district, as well as the district office, will undergo construction to some degree, projections for SRRHS prove the most costly, while West Sedona School’s campus will be the most altered, according to Dave Young, senior planner for Pinnacle One, a project management company in Tempe.
When SRRHS was built 14 years ago, it included plans for future additions, which the school will now receive thanks to the bond.
Four classrooms, totalling 5,700 square feet, will be added where the school’s designs left room for them 14 years ago, and 9,000 square feet will be added to the technology area, which will consist of a photo lab, a special needs room and restrooms, Young said.
By Alison Ecklund
By Larson Newspapers
Sedona Red Rock High School is getting the most — dollarwise — from the $73 million bond passed in the Sedona-Oak Creek District last fall.
Although all three schools in the district, as well as the district office, will undergo construction to some degree, projections for SRRHS prove the most costly, while West Sedona School’s campus will be the most altered, according to Dave Young, senior planner for Pinnacle One, a project management company in Tempe.
When SRRHS was built 14 years ago, it included plans for future additions, which the school will now receive thanks to the bond.
Four classrooms, totalling 5,700 square feet, will be added where the school’s designs left room for them 14 years ago, and 9,000 square feet will be added to the technology area, which will consist of a photo lab, a special needs room and restrooms, Young said.
This technology wing, consisting of science, technology, engineering and math is something SRRHS Principal David Lykins is most excited about because of the special needs room, he said.
The wing will have rooms that equip special needs students with life skills like shopping, laundry and kitchen skills.
Although the effort has always been there to serve this student population, the infrastructor has not, according to Lykins.
The classroom additions, to be done by McCarthy Building Company of Tempe, will start in October and be completed by May 2009, Young said.
SRRHS will also be getting a 10,800 square-foot practice gym, so the two gyms can be divided for practice times among the junior varsity and varsity boys and girls teams.
Currently, with one gym, some teams don’t finish practice until 9 or 10 p.m., which cuts down on family and homework time. According to Lykins, everything the school is getting will help in student achievement.
Perhaps one of the most anticipated renovations will be the addition of the performing arts center from 250 seats to 750 seats.
Plans are to double the size of the existing auditorium and triple the number of seats, Young said.
The performing arts center’s lobby will be getting a 3,100 square foot expansion with free space under the raised seating area, which may be used as an art gallery.
Behind the stage area, drama, dance, practice and vocal rooms will be added. These additions, along with the new center will total 17,400 square feet, according to Young.
The practice gym and performing arts center are projected to begin March 2009. The center should be done by May 2010, and the gym even sooner.
One bond item that is nearing completion is the artificial turf football field and track at the high school.
The $1.6 million project, which should be complete this month, resurfaced the existing football field and built a new track with synthetic materials.
The new track and field will also be getting a concrete amphitheater for fans and to keep the dirt hill it will be on from washing out.
The track and the six projected tennis courts will also help student achievement, Lykins said. By allowing students to host home meets and matches, the track and courts will cut down on travel time, he said. Sunland Asphalt of Phoenix will start this summer on the $450,000 tennis court project, Young said.
Also this summer, work will begin on new parking lots, which will add 80 additional spots, Lykins said.
Phase three, which is projected to start in three years, will replace air conditioning equipment, concrete walls, drinking fountains and fix drainage problems.
The public can tour SRRHS to see proposed construction plans Tuesday, June 17, at 1:30 p.m.
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 125, or e-mail aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com
