The Jefferson City School District's two high school renovation and construction projects are expected to be completed by Dec. 20, about two weeks ahead of schedule.
During Superintendent Larry Linthacum's monthly coffee event Friday, The Architects Alliance Principal Architect Cary Gampher gave an update on the two high school projects.
At Jefferson City High School, the gym, cafeteria, kitchen, commons, administrative offices, classrooms, little theater and Nichols Career Center shop class areas are complete.
A new practice gym, building connector with Nichols, final classroom renovations and minor shop work are expected to be completed by Dec. 20, Gampher said.
Final classroom construction was scheduled for January 2020, according to information on the JC Schools website.
"We're at about 92 percent at Jeff City High School as far as completion," Gampher said Friday.
The completion of the main north entrance and the south entrance is expected to make a huge difference in the exterior view.
"The most intensive remaining work would be the entryway, the connector, the media center, the auxiliary gym, counseling, band hall," Gampher said.
At the north entrance at Jayette and Jay drives, a large turning area with retaining walls and roundabout will make heavy traffic run more smoothly. The south entrance on Union Street is being renovated this week with concrete steps, sidewalks and an elevator near the parking lot.
A lit, beacon-like structure named "Jay Tower" is awaiting red panels for its completion, Gampher said. The marker will be seen from both entrances to draw people in, he said.
Other remaining projects include the auxiliary gym, which will also function as a storm shelter, and installing graphics. The district spent about $2.2 million on construction and renovation in October, said Frank Underwood, director of facilities, safety and transportation.
Capital City High School opened in August with 40 classrooms, a kitchen, administrative offices and a practice field. As of Friday, all administrative areas, classrooms, science media center, kitchen, cafeteria, parking and sidewalks are finished.
Remaining projects include practice fields, the locker room, the main gym, auxiliary gym and training rooms, making the school 93 percent complete with a final completion date of Jan. 1, Gampher said.
When construction projects are turned over to the district, they are not automatically ready for students to enter the spaces, Gampher added.
Final elements are inspected by The Architects Alliance and district officials. Once approved, municipal code inspections and occupancy permits are done by the city.
Classroom objects like furniture, fixtures and equipment are provided by the district. For example, 150 interactive monitors for classrooms were purchased for close to $4,000 per system, JC Schools Director of Communication Ryan Burns said.
The district spent $1.1 million on construction and renovation at CCHS in October, Underwood said.
Both schools will be ready for the ribbon-cutting and open house event scheduled Jan. 12, 2020. At JCHS, a program will begin at 1:15 p.m. Self-guided tours will run from 1-2:30 p.m. At CCHS, a program will begin at 3:15 p.m. with self-guided tours running until 4:30 p.m. Speakers will be announced at a later date.