By Evan Lu and Mindy Wang, News Editor and Staff Reporter
As the school year comes to a close, the Conestoga High School expansion project rapidly nears its Aug. 17 deadline.
With an overall projected budget of $39.6 million, the project includes the construction of new internal and external infrastructure. Internal additions include an atrium, 11 regular classrooms, three special education classrooms, four science labs, an art room, a fabrication lab and other smaller spaces for meetings and offices. Meanwhile, external additions include increased parking for students and a sports bus queue.
The atrium serves as the centerpiece for the entire project. According to assistant principal Dr. Patrick Boyle, the atrium design was chosen for its adaptability and multi-purpose function.
“What we wanted is to have somewhere comfortable for students to go – another space that’s not the library, that’s not the cafeteria, but a space that’s built around (students’) needs,” Boyle said.
New restrooms are another key aspect of the project. Unlike the multi-person, gendered restrooms currently available to students, some new restrooms are structured to be unisex and serve a single student at a time.
“Creating individual stalls allows students access to the areas that make them most comfortable,” Boyle said. “Whatever the situation might be, anyone can feel comfortable in what they’re doing.”
However, Boyle’s favorite part of the expansion is not the flashy atrium or fabrication lab. Instead, he’s particularly excited for the construction of a new area for life skills students that includes a kitchenette, laundry room, and full bathroom.
“It gives them the opportunity to have the items that they use on a daily basis right next to them, rather than traveling to several different classrooms to do that,” Boyle said.
With the project currently on track to finish just before its deadline, it seems likely that the new rooms and resources will be available for students and faculty in the upcoming year.
Click here for the video package!
