Construction of new elementary building employs hundreds of area workers

The mammoth project under way onCambridge Roadis affecting companies that employ hundreds of area residents.

It was more evident this week as concrete walls rose to tower above the mounds of dirt that surround the construction site of Coshocton City Schools' new elementary building.

"There's been a lot of activity," said Vic Cardenzana, who serves as the Coshocton City Schools Board of Education representative for the project.

A recent tour revealed workers swarming over the site, stacking concrete blocks, laying electric conduit and pouring concrete footers. The scene was one of constant movement as operators shifted around a backhoe, cement mixer trucks and skid steers.

Some of those employees are from local companies, such as Hilscher-Clarke, which has been in Coshocton for about 40 years, said Ted Foster, division manager. Based inCanton, the 100-year-old company has threeOhiodivisions. The other one is inToledo.

Three Hilscher-Clarke employees currently work on the site, but as things ramp up, so will the number of employees assigned to the project, Foster said. Locally, Hilscher-Clarke employs five people in the office and about 40 electricians, he said.

"For us, we want to be a part of this. We're local, and it's near and dear to our hearts," he said.

Many of the employees' children have attended or are attending Coshocton City Schools.

The new school building was made possible with funds from the state -- about $16.1 million if the district could come up with 33 percent to complete the $24 million project. A 3.16-mill construction levy and .5 maintenance levy was approved by voters in May 2010, and design work got under way later that same year. Site excavation began in August 2011 and construction is now in full swing. Sometime in the fall of 2013, the student bodies of South Lawn, Central andLincolnelementary schools will consolidate into their new building.

Hilscher-Clarke won the competitive bid for the electrical contract at $1.6 million, Cardenzana said. Masonry was awarded to Stanley Miller Construction for $3.7 million, and Reece-Campbell ofCincinnatiwas awarded the general contract for the project at $6.5 million.

Lee's Glass Service of Coshocton was selected by Reece-Campbell as a subcontractor for the windows, and Cardenzana said that will be for $212,000.

Stanley Miller has used several area businesses for supplies, including Tractor Supply, Auer Ace Hardware, NAPA Auto Parts, Mullett Tire Service and Coshocton Brake and Supply, Cardenzana said.

"We encourage the various contractors to utilize local businesses and labor as much as possible," Cardenzana said.

Another prominent company at the site is Smith Concrete, a division of the Shelly Co., which has a plant off U.S.36 inCoshoctonCounty. Shelly is supplying stone and concrete for the job. Albert Excavating, Inc., has been hauling material to and from the site, and the underground pipe was manufactured by Clow Water Systems Co., Cardenzana said.

Coshocton Lumber Co. has supplied some material for the job such as lumber for concrete forms, but Donnie Jacobs, with contractor sales, said there's a chance they'll win the bid to supply framing material, steel studs and drywall for the project.

"There's going to be a lot more to come, and hopefully we'll be part of it," Jacobs said.

On the site now are large sections of interlocking concrete blocks that will form a decorative wall dropping down to the lower level rear of the building, where the entrance to the gymnasium will be located. Off the gym is the cafeteria, with a raised stage for performances, and adjacent to it are two music rooms, Cardenzana said. A garden of plastic pipes sprout from the ground in the kitchen area right now.

Some of the material that's been hauled out is shale and other products that could lead to a faulty base for the structure, Cardenzana said. A base 32 inches thick and 13 feet wide supports the elevated layers that will faceCambridge Road.

Soil compaction will be tested by a specialist, and someone is on site each day as concrete is poured and each truck load is tested, Cardenzana said.

Behind the school are four large retention pipes made at AK Steel that are capable of holding 192,000 gallons of water runoff from the building and parking lot, he said. The water will trickle slowly out of those pipes into a retention pond, where it will be filtered before entering a stream adjacent to the property.

The main entry to the building will be on theCambridge Roadlevel, where grades pre-kindergarden through second will be located.

The lower entry will be access the gym, the art rooms, media center and cafeteria. Classrooms for grades three and four will be on this level. The gym is on the south side of the school and faces the high school.

The main entry is on theCambridge Roadlevel. This is where PreK through grade 2 are located.

The enclosed playground for grades pre-kindergarten through second will faceCambridge Roadand be separated from the street by a mound.

Grades five and six will be located on the top level of the building.

Superintendent David Hire said the district was fortunate to get someone with Cardenzana's experience. He oversaw the building project in theRidgewoodLocalSchool Districtthat was completed in 2002.

"There are a lot of checks and balances that take place on the project," Hire said. "It's exciting to see the actual construction under way. The hard work of the board is done. Now we can just stay out of the way and watch. I think it's a definite benefit to our community." cated.<]�ps
x� �:�e-height: 24px; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 160px; color: rgb(44, 44, 44); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">The enclosed playground for grades pre-kindergarten through second will face Cambridge Road and be separated from the street by a mound.

Grades five and six will be located on the top level of the building.

Superintendent David Hire said the district was fortunate to get someone with Cardenzana's experience. He oversaw the building project in the Ridgewood Local School District that was completed in 2002.

"There are a lot of checks and balances that take place on the project," Hire said. "It's exciting to see the actual construction under way. The hard work of the board is done. Now we can just stay out of the way and watch. I think it's a definite benefit to our community."