Project File: Districtwide improvements

The new Bernard Middle School in the Mehlville School District, St. Louis, will be the first new school built in the district since the early 1990s. The 129,000-square-foot complex, which is being constructed next to the Bernard Accelerated Elementary School, is scheduled to be complete by fall 2003.

The new facility will serve grades 6 to 8 as part of the districtwide initiative to expand the district's middle schools to include three grades. After completion of the new middle school, the elementary school will remain open for about a year, serving as relocation space for Oakville Elementary School during construction of a new elementary school. Then, the accelerated school will be demolished, and students will be reassigned to other elementary schools in the district.

The new middle school is part of a $72 million capital-improvements program, which is being funded by a bond issue that voters approved in November 2000. The district also is building an early-childhood facility and a new Oakville Middle School. Renovations and additions will occur at the district's two high schools, three middle schools and eight elementary schools. A large addition is planned for Washington Middle School. The improvements also include various aspects of work at all of the district's 17 existing facilities. Among these improvements are mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and technology infrastructure upgrades, as well as window and roof replacements.

Construction manager for the project is McCarthy Building Companies (St. Louis). Architect is Dickinson Hussman Architects (St. Louis).

For more information on these projects and others, visit www.schooldesigns.com.