Architects pitch Ringgold Middle plans

Published: Tuesday, January 15, 2013, 1:06a.m. Updated: Tuesday, January 15, 2013

After two architects pitched preliminary plans for a new Ringgold Middle School during a facilities committee meeting, school board President Mariann Bulko said the board will vote Wednesday to hire one in an effort to move forward with the project.

I was told, do not flinch, do not blink, dont look over my shoulder ... just move ahead, Bulko said after nearly two hours of presentations.

Im trying to do something that has not been done as president of the board. Weve been saying for years that we were going to build a new middle school. Im really hoping that this will unite the district.

She said the students are united.

They want this, but its the parents and adults that are fighting, Bulko said. We have seven municipalities that make up Ringgold. Thats the biggest challenge, bringing everyone together, and we have some board members that are trying to divide it even further.

Hayes Large Architects LLP and HHSDR Architects and Engineers are competing for the job.

Hayes Large opened the meeting by submitting its plan for the grades five through eight building, which will be near the high school.

Both plans would be at the same site.

The cost estimate for the Hayes Large building is $26.2 million, including construction costs, $21.3 million, and other costs, $4.9 million. The size would be 126,000 square feet.

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Architects pitch Ringgold Middle plans