They presented the new plans for Pickens and Liberty high schools Monday night, which include a reduction in square footage and a cheaper heating and air system.
The board approved the changes in a 6-1 vote, with at-large member Shirley Jones voting against it.
Jones expressed concerns about the heating and air change, which will now utilize heat pumps on the roof instead of the four pipe boiler chiller originally planned.
Architect Chris Voso with McMillan, Smith & Partners said the heat pump system will not be as energy efficient but was more affordable on the front end.
Jones referred to the decision as “save now and pay later.”
She also said she was concerned the heat pump system may cause roof leaks, which could in turn cause mold and mildew problems.
Interim superintendent Mendel Stewart said because of budget constraints, the cheaper system had to be used, or else classrooms would have to be cut, or the budget would have to be increased for the high schools, leaving less money for the other schools.
The latest LHS plan calls for a 33,285 reduction in square footage, and the PHS design was cut by 50,771 square feet. Only one classroom, in the athletic area, was cut at each school.
Other features eliminated include balcony seating in the PHS auditorium, which will decrease seating capacity from 909 to 818, covered outdoor seating at the cafeterias and libraries.
The size of the media centers was also decreased, according to Donza Mattison, also an architect with McMillan.
She also said the board had the option of using synthetic stucco on the high portions of the gymnasiums and auditoriums instead of brick.
However, board member Herb Cooper spoke out against the idea.
“I don’t want anything cheap looking,” he said.
Interim superintendent Mendel Stewart said, however, the district “is shooting for a brick building.”
Architects also reduced the scope to some of the outdoor features, including the elimination of the soccer stadiums and tennis courts at all four schools.
“Exterior walkways, site lighting and fencing have been reduced in scope, covered canopies to drop-off loops have been eliminated, and the bulk of the landscaping has been scaled back to only what will be required by the local authorities to meet landscaping,” Mattison said.
Some of the arches on the exterior design were also eliminated.
Board member Alex Saitta, who represents the Pickens area, said the architects did a good job with the changes.
“We started out with a plan of get everything and find the money later to one that is limited,” he said.
He also said the new schools will be better than 99 percent of the homes in Pickens County.
“They will make the Easley library look like mobile homes,” he said.
LHS principle Randy Gilstrap and PHS principal Marion Lawson both said they were pleased with the changes and were ready to move forward with the projects.
Post a Comment
