In just two weeks, preliminary work will start on Altoona’s new $87 million high school project. On May 1, the intramural athletic field will become off limits to students and around June 1, residents will notice that the Altoona Field House is fully under construction
Local builder Joseph Orr says you’ll start to see a lot of equipment at the site by mid-July when the foundation work gets underway. Toward the end of the year, you’ll see steel being placed.
Orr says, “it’s such a major project and it’s nice to have one close to home to work on. We work all over Pennsylvania and this is the biggest job we’ve had in Altoona in our company history.”
The JC Orr President says his 150 employees will do a major part of the construction, but he expects another 50 jobs to be created by his company, or subcontractors.
The project’s been a source of contention with some board and community members in opposition.
Superintendent Dr Charles Prijatelj contends the project, built to accommodate the latest technology and teaching techniques is necessary for both local students and businesses
“We’re looking at how we can really train that middle swath of kids so if they’re not the top of their class in college, they’re still viably employed when they graduate, and in turn having them have exposure in experience in areas that are going to benefit our local manufacturing and production businesses,” he stated.
The project is scheduled to be completed before the school year begins in the fall of 2020.