Construction crews are laying the foundation of the new building in the former student parking lot. Construction will continue throughout the 2012-2013 school year.
BY KYRA BACON
Construction on Cooper City High School’s new building has been making progress in the former student parking lot and it is on track to be completed by next year.
All through the summer, the construction crew worked, with anywhere from 30-100 workers on site during the day. The initial crew is finishing the foundation. A second crew will arrive in about a month or two to begin building the walls of the first floor of the new building.
According to Assistant Principal Anthony Valachovic, the construction of the new building will be finished between April and June 2013 and that it will be ready for the 2013-2014 school year. The construction of the new building is part of a long-term plan to “re-do” CCHS. The replacement schedule began with the cafeteria that was built two years ago.
“I’m really excited for the new building” sophomore Michael Stone said, “It will be a nice change from the 100 building, because it really needs an update.”
Built in the early 70s, the 100 building, nicknamed “the old building” by students, has been through a lot, including various hurricanes. Since it was built, codes for educational buildings have changed and the 100 building isn’t up to the new requirements. Four years ago, the building was given a temporary roof, and today, the leaks are hard to miss. The faulty AC unit and problems with the interior structure also contributed to the decision to take it down.
“There’s no point in fixing it,” Valachovic said. “The money would be better spent on creating a newer, sturdier building than wasting it on one that has to come down anyway.”
The new building will have 3 floors and about 60 rooms. The first floor will include all administration and guidance offices; with the second and third containing english, science, and reading classes plus all new auto-tech and early childcare classrooms.
The teachers in the 100 building will move to the new building, and the 3400 building teachers will stay where they are. The new building, although similar in some design aspects to the 3400 building, will have a completely new layout in the shape of an L.
The 100 building will be taken down about a week after summer starts in 2013. Immediately after, a student parking lot will be built in its place.
“Parking is our biggest issue,” Valachovic said. “Students struggle to find spaces, and we will have a hard time fitting extra guests during after-school activities such as Homecoming, Crazy Feats, home sports games or plays.”
Unfortunately, the traffic pattern will change one more time. Once the building is complete, students and teachers will enter off Stirling Road, while buses will come in from Dudley Road. More news will be given as we move closer to the end of construction.
“I hope everyone is excited about the fact that they are getting a new building, along with bigger classrooms and new equipment,” Principal Wendy Doll said.
