Tommy Burleson gives a tour of the Fairmont School project to the school board members and officials Thursay afternoon.
(Lee Talbert / Johnson City Press)
Fairmont Elementary project progresses
By Gary B. GrayPress Staff Writer
ggray@johnsoncitypress.com
A trip out to what is quickly becoming the new Fairmont Elementary School revealed a flurry of machinery and workers making noticeable progress on what will be the Johnson City School System’s newest jewel.
“It’s been smooth sailing,” said Fairmont Principal Carol McGill. “It’s actually affirming to see how well the plans are turning out to match what we’re seeing out here. It will have all the specifications that were planned.”
The old school, which lies just below and adjacent to the construction site, had been accommodating pre-K through fifth grade.
“When the new school is built, it will house pre-K through the fourth grade,” McGill said. “It will be the only school with pre-K.”
The $14.3 million school came in well under the projected $17 million budget, and construction is about one-third complete, said Dave Chupa the school system’s supervisor of instruction and facilities.
Knoxville’s Merit Construction is building the 93,000-square-foot school, which will hold up to 750 students and is set for completion in spring 2011. Students will be moved into the new school at that point and demolition will begin on the old school.
“Our students have acted like there’s nothing going on,” McGill said of the youngsters’ playful indifference to the pounding machinery and general noise accompanied by construction. “The kids have just been rolling with the punches.”
The current school’s gymnasium will be the only building preserved for use as a community building once the new school is constructed. Once demolished, bricks from the old school will be given out as memorabilia and used for the construction of a memorabilia wall in the lobby of the new school. The open space will be converted to a playground much larger than the old one.
The new school also will be “green” in design, utilizing a geothermal heating and cooling system comprised of 125 geothermal wells dug 405 feet deep on the second level of the school on the far side of the classrooms.
Merit Superintendent Billy Edmison said drilling continues, but the wells are about 60 percent complete.
“Once the wells are done, we’ll reposition our equipment and start on the kitchen,” Edmison said.
A kitchen and dining area will be built near the front of the school, as well as a new gymnasium, which will be constructed after the main building is completed.
The main building includes a two-story section with the first floor housing a large foyer, administrative offices and kindergarten classrooms. Stairs and an elevator lead to the second floor where the library and more classrooms are located. The second level connects to the second floor and is entirely comprised of classrooms.
All structural steel is up and the trusses will arrive Aug. 2, Edmison said. It will take about one month for the roof to be completed.
The duct work, ventilation, framing and concrete block is nearly complete inside and out on the main building. The foyer is tall and roomy and will sport large windows that look out at the playground and lots of trees and green space. The elevator is positioned in the middle of the first floor and is close to the mechanical room.
Each classroom is 800 square feet in size, the average size of a high school classroom. They also have large window spaces under which bookshelves will sit, and each classroom has a separate exit door.
School officials have not chosen any interior or exterior color schemes.