Design for new Peters Township High School moves forward

The schematic design phase of the process to build a new Peters Township High School is nearing its conclusion.
Hayes Design Group Architects is expected to present the design, which represents an initial consolidation of concepts and scope, to the school board during its Sept. 11 buildings and grounds committee meeting.
“We don’t usually vote on the schematic design, but we’d like some consensus,” Superintendent Jeannine French told board members at their regular meeting on Aug. 21. “We hope to have all of our community and teacher input by that time to put in front of you for the 11th.”
Hayes then will move on to the design development stage, during which schematic design decisions are advanced in greater detail.
The Robinson Township, Allegheny County-based architectural firm also is working with Peters Township School District on a master site plan for the former Rolling Hills Country Club property, on which the high school is to be constructed. The 198-acre parcel is to be divided between the district and township.
The school board voted Aug. 21 to authorize Hayes to proceed with the second step of site plan development by coordinating with the municipality on a new road through the property, connecting East McMurray and Center Church roads. Both entities have expressed consensus on the street being public as opposed to privately owned and maintained.
Three steps remain toward the site plan, culminating with presentation of a final plan, including a session to provide information to the community.
Also on Sept. 11, the school board plans a special voting meeting to consider a contract for the high school project’s construction management services. During an Aug. 17 buildings and grounds committee meeting, five firms gave presentations. They are listed with some of their projects involving school construction:
• P.J. Dick Inc. of Pittsburgh’s North Side served as construction manager for the $110 million renovation of Mt. Lebanon High School.
• Reynolds Construction LLC, regionally based in O’Hara Township, provided construction management in support of renovations to the century-old former Turtle Creek High School in Woodland Hills School District.
• Thomas & Williamson LLC of Ross Township has worked on projects regionally in Avonworth, Deer Lakes, Elizabeth Forward, Gateway and North Allegheny school districts.
• Weber, Murphy & Fox Inc., with Pennsylvania offices in Erie and State College, designed the new high school campus in Bethel Park, and the firm also has been working with Hayes Design Group on Peters Township projects, including a districtwide facilities study and planning for the new high school.
• Mascaro Construction Co. LP, North Side, served as general trade contractor for the Bethel Park High School project and general prime contractor for the construction of Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School in Cranberry Township.