Architects address Beaver Local design concerns

ROGERS-As Beaver Local's new K-12 campus begins to take shape, the building's architects visited Monday's Board of Education meeting to update the community and address questions from the board about the building's design.

John DeFrance, an architect with the Youngstown firm of Olsavsky Jaminet, reported to the board that the school's construction was on schedule, but construction had been delayed several times due to the unusually rainy conditions. He also said the firm is under budget at this point in the project.

"We did lose eight days to weather but, overall, the schedule has been kept," said DeFrance, who attended the meeting along with fellow architects Dennis Kaplan and Ray Jaminet.

DeFrance told the board steel beams are ready to be installed in the building and the firm's goal is to have roofs on the facility by Christmas. He said having roofs installed will make it easier for crews to continue construction through the winter months.

DeFrance then turned the focus of his report to the floor plan of the new facility, which he noted has raised some questions from the board and the community.

The floor plan is based around the 21st Century Learning Concept, meaning the interior of the school will feature a primarily open floor plan with few dividing walls. DeFrance noted the board approved the design in May 2013, and said he was unsure why only now concerns were being brought to his attention. He said changes could be made to the design, but only at the risk of seriously delaying the project.

On the subject of the facility's layout, DeFrance was questioned primarily by Board Member Lance Shultz, who said he has been asking tough questions at every stage of the project and commended DeFrance and his crew for "doing a heck of a job."

Shultz said his primary concern was the 21st Century Learning Concept and open floor plan design might not work for Beaver Local. He noted a previous board had approved the plans in 2013, and since then he has reviewed the plans and researched 21st Century Learning.

"The 21st Century Learning is a relatively new curriculum," said Shultz. "Does or doesn't it work? We're not really sure yet, and I think the jury is still out on that."

He said despite whatever apprehension he and the board might have about this relatively new education concept, it was important to support the district in trying something new. Still, he asked architects how the school's open floor plan design might be altered if the 21st Century Learning Concept does not succeed in the district.

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Architects address Beaver Local design concerns