Hickory Construction Workers Log Nearly 100,000 Hours Renovating Alcoa Elementary School
By Matthew Stewart of The Daily Times Staff
Originally Published: July 23, 2009 3:01am
Last Modified: August 17, 2009 3:51pm
“What's been accomplished here is nothing short of a miracle,” said Alcoa Director of Schools Tom Shamblin
Hickory Construction workers cleared a giant hurdle this summer, completing a massive renovation project at Alcoa Elementary School in record time.
From May 23 through July 19, Hickory Construction logged 98,000 man-hours on the Alcoa Elementary School project. Workers renovated 80,000 square feet of the building's pre-renovation 104,000-square-foot footprint, said Jim Pack, Hickory Construction's vice president of commercial operations.
Workers have added 5,500 square feet of administration space and an additional 5,000 square feet of classroom space, Pack said. Alcoa Elementary School's total footprint is now 114,500 square feet.
Workers have completed work on Pods 1 and 5, and they are expected to complete all work on Pod 4 within the next two weeks, Pack said. About 30 workers will continue to perform touch-up until students arrive next week.
From here on out, workers will renovate pods from 3:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every day, Pack said.
The renovated elementary school has many new amenities to better serve its students and staff. Officials have moved their special education teachers from a makeshift area around the library to enclosed classrooms, which allow teachers to offer services including physical and occupational therapies. The system's technology personnel have also installed projectors and interactive whiteboards in all renovated pods.
Workers have converted three teacher work rooms into computer labs, which has freed up space for the school to offer three more classes. Officials have already added a third grade class, and they will likely have to create at least one more class this year, said Principal Merna Schott.
School officials are excited about the changes. "Teachers are ecstatic," said Schott. "They're still trying to find their way around the building. I think our students and parents will be awestruck. We feel like kids on Christmas Day."
Schott has been impressed with her staff's professionalism throughout the renovation process. "Teachers have kept their chins up as they've had to move stuff out of their rooms and work out of the gym," she said. "They've been true educators, because they've been focused on the children which is where their hearts should be."
Two 10-hour shifts
During the summer, renovation work was conducted in two 10-hour shifts every day of the week, Pack said. Project superintendents -- Mike Knight and Randy Vicars -- oversaw about 100 workers per 10-hour shift.
Officials worked like gangbusters around the clock. Workers drove tractors into the pods and, over a period of three days, gutted the entire pod including the school's two ceilings. Workers later cut out the concrete slab and performed all the underground rough-in.
Workers then poured concrete back into the holes and framed the bathroom walls. After completing the electrical rough-in, workers installed the drywall, put in the new ceilings and completed all the finishing touches.
Officials expect the renovated school to be more energy efficient. Workers are installing water-source heat pumps, and six small chillers will service each pod, Pack said. High energy efficient windows and additional insulation should also help the school, he said.
All HVAC units meet the fresh air requirements set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Pack said. 'Lot of doubters'
"What's been accomplished here is nothing short of a miracle," said Alcoa Director of Schools Tom Shamblin. "Renovations are no fun, and they're a lot of work. When it's done, and done correctly, it's well worth the wait, trouble and headaches that come with it. Workers and school staff have all had the goal of getting this finished. Their hard work and teamwork has made this a reality."
Alcoa Elementary School's renovation is currently tracking on schedule for a December completion date, and the project is on budget, Pack said.
"Everybody's proud of what we did this summer," Pack said. "There was a lot of doubters. We have a good team, project managers and subs (subcontractors). We're all about building trust on performance. We really appreciate the chance to prove we could do this."
Hickory officials are not aware of any other firm completing a task of this magnitude -- total demolition and remodel of 80,000 square feet in six or seven weeks -- hin this area, Pack said.