Schemmer’s Terry Wood, AIA, LEED AP, Project Manager, Molly Macklin, Assoc. AIA, Design Professional, and Mike Fortenbury, Construction Contract Administrator, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Omaha Public School's (OPS) Gilder Elementary School.
Gilder Elementary students, staff, parents, community and guests attended the ceremony to officially start the renovations on the 33,000 SF, 53-year old school. Principal Cassandra Schmidt kicked off the ceremony and Gilder Elementary student's proudly performed the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and their school song, Gilder G.R.E.A.T.
Chief Operations Office, Antoinette Turnquist; OPS Board President, Lacey Merica; Bellevue Mayor, Rita Sanders; Bellevue Administrator, Joe Mangiamelli and City Councilman, Don Preister, as well as representatives from JE Dunn Construction, Jacobs Engineering Group and OPS administrators were on hand for the ceremony.
"We are grateful to the Omaha community for funding the bonding program and to the Bellevue community for their ongoing daily support to our school. We look forward to being in an updated building that will offer students greater learning opportunities, safety and the opportunity for all students to occupy the same building," said Schmidt.
"This renovated building will give students an opportunity to continue the academic momentum they've achieved in the last three years," Turnquist said. "Our number one priority is and always will be offering our students the best possible educational experiences to prepare them to take their place in the global economy and workforce."
Included in the renovations that Schemmer is designing for Gilder Elementary are the addition of six early childhood and six elementary classrooms. The school will also benefit from site upgrades to the parent and bus drop-off/pick-up areas, ADA improvements, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, carpet, paint, security, safe area, central air conditioning to the entire facility, fire sprinkler and intercom systems. The project is projected to cost $9.5 million.
To learn more about this project, click here.
