Allegheny Valley School Board eyes upgrades at Springdale High School

Allegheny Valley School District officials went straight to the scene Thursday — Springdale High School’s auditorium lobby — as they reviewed possible renovation projects at the building.

The renovations are still in the planning phases, and Thursday’s meeting addressed possible work to be done in the auditorium and gymnasium areas, as well as the plaza to the main entrance.

“It’s a good idea to be here where the project will take place,” Superintendent Pat Graczyk said.

Because of the preliminary nature of the renovations, Graczyk could not provide a cost estimate.

Terry Thompson, vice president of the Foreman Group, showed conceptual designs of projects in the high school’s main entrance area, auditorium lobby and gym lobby.

If the district decides to proceed, Thompson recommends starting with the auditorium lobby, followed by the gym lobby and outside area.

In his design, Thompson proposed a bathroom addition between the auditorium lobby and main office.

He said he chose that location because crews could tap into main utility lines underground.

Trees are there now. But one of the trees commemorates the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and board members suggested leaving that space as-is and moving the proposed restrooms inside the building with a ramp.

Doing so might lower costs, and the district might be able to get construction materials faster.

Thompson also suggested modernizing the auditorium lobby space with improvements to walls, flooring, lighting and ceilings.

In the gym lobby, Thompson’s design proposed the men’s restroom be relocated to where the women’s restroom is, and vice versa. That design adds more sinks and toilets than what currently is included in the women’s bathroom.

He also proposed a new stairwell from the mezzanine, along with other upgrades within the lobby.

Outside the school, the design shows a leveled plaza at the main doors and a retaining wall. It also includes five new accessible parking spaces.

“Right now, you have some space, but it’s not as big as it could be and it’s not as level as it could be,” Thompson said of the main entrance area.

Graczyk said Thursday’s meeting was one of many to come.

Once the board reviews and revises the designs, it will consider the cost and decide whether, or how, to proceed, he said.