BIM Designs, Inc. was responsible for detailing and coordination services, design drawings, and a bill of materials that meet or exceed the requirements of our client.
Originally planned to be three stories tall, the architects opted for a lower height (37 feet) to keep the structure compatible with the neighborhood. The new building will sit closer to Taft Avenue, and be accessible via two entry plazas and a dedicated drop-off zone for Special Ed. students. When complete, the facility will be surrounded by a “generous” landscape buffer.
The wet labs will be 2,100 sq. ft. each, the classrooms 1,200 sq. ft., and the structure will contain a “remarkable number of restrooms.” It will also host a “physics” balcony (cue the egg drop), include moveable furniture, lockers and natural ventilation.
Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2019, with occupancy in November 2020. The long lead time for this facility and those on deck for Canyon, El Modena and Orange High Schools, is required as the State of California must also approve the plans. That process takes roughly nine months.
OUSD has not yet released any Measure S bonds. Money spent on the projects thus far has come from a reserve fund the district promised to spend before issuing bonds. The district has not yet said when it plans to issue the bonds, so it is not known when payments will appear on tax bills.
Meanwhile, the Citizens Oversight Committee, a group appointed to monitor Measure S expenditures, held its first meeting last month. Because there are no bond expenses yet to oversee, committee members spent that first meeting getting organized, electing officers and developing bylaws. It plans to meet again in September.
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