Work on the new Lincoln Junior High School remains on schedule, as crews prepare for winter. Project Manager Derek Anderson told the Plymouth School Board Tuesday that good weather has helped with progress over the past month.
Outside the new school, crews have started pouring sidewalks and creating parking lots, with the goal of getting as much of the work done as possible before winter starts. Anderson expects the exterior masonry work to wrap up by early December. Meanwhile, the roof is just about complete, and the installation of the interior finishes is underway.
Anderson said the new gym area has been painted, and acoustical panels are being installed. Backboards will be put in place in a couple weeks, while work on the gym floor will likely start in early January. Tile floors are currently being installed in the locker rooms. Anderson added that crews are framing walls in the administration area, and ceiling grids will start going into the future classroom area in a few weeks.
When it comes to the building’s mechanical equipment, Anderson said NIPSCO has put the permanent power supply in place. The boilers are set, and they should be ready to be fired up in about two weeks, giving the building heat on a temporary basis.
Anderson said construction is on track to be done within about seven months. Once the new Lincoln Junior High School is in use, much of the current building will be torn down, but the original 1926 structure will be retained and renovated. It’s expected to house offices for the JESSE Cooperative. Superintendent Andy Hartley reported that the demolition and renovation project is still in the design phase.
