Construction on the $33.7 million Montezuma-Cortez High School is on schedule. The new two-story 152,500-square-foot schoolhouse is expected to open in fall 2015.<\/p>\n
Senior project manager Rick Fleming of Nunn Construction provided school board members with a production update this week, saying the site changes on a daily basis. According to Fleming, most of the underground plumbing was nearly completed, about three-quarters of the concrete slabs poured, structural steel was being erected and crews were expected to start enclosing the building with exterior walls within weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a quick and dirty look of what\u2019s going on,\u201d said Fleming.<\/p>\n
One of the more intriguing aspects of the project that Fleming highlighted was the use of some 21st century technology. He said two-dimensional architectural plans were converted into digital three-dimensional color coordinated models, providing plumbing, HVAC and electrical crews, for example, with an inside peek into the architectural plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tape measures and string lines have been replaced,\u201d said Fleming. \u201cNow there\u2019s lots of people on site walking around with iPads.\u201d<\/p>\n
Able to dissect the structure at any point, Fleming said the 3-D models have saved time and headaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s tremendous what we can do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mike Sibo, a digital consultant for Nunn Construction, added that the technology helps to reduce onsite conflicts by half, estimating the school project could potentially have up to 150. A conflict, for example, could involve a plumber who had to install a pipe around a steel beam.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so much more efficient,\u201d said Sibo.<\/p>\n
Sibo said the technology also improved on-site safety, and allowed subcontractors to conduct off-site manufacturing.<\/p>\n
Available to mechanical and structural trades for the past decade, the evolutionary 3-D technology has ramped up construction projects in the past three to five years, said Fleming. The greatest learning curve involves training construction crews.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they see it, they\u2019re like, Wow,\u201d said Fleming. \u201cIt makes life a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to school officials, the total project, slightly more than $41 million, includes the purchase of the 35-acre property south of Wal-Mart, architectural designs, legal fees and construction costs.<\/p>\n
A $22.7 million Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant is funding 52 percent of total cost, and a voter approved November 2012 bond issue picks up the remaining tab.<\/p>\n
The project was forecast to have a $63 million economic impact locally, creating more than 400 construction jobs.<\/p>\n
The current high school, constructed in 1967, is expected to be demolished.<\/p>\n
A link to weekly high school construction updates is available at www.cortez.k12.co.us.<\/p>\n