Firelands Local Schools Construction News:
October 2020
The building pad area has been completed. Soil excavating for the new parking lot, detention basin and access road has begun. Design work continues, especially in the Extended Learning Areas (ELA).
September 2020
Excavation work has begun. The lay down area and the gravel construction road work started on September 9th.
A virtual groundbreaking will be held on September 15, 2020 at 6:30 pm via Facebook Live.
August 2020
The new Firelands High School has an address:
Firelands High School
10521 Vermilion Road
Oberlin, OH 44074
Last winter a large group of community members, staff and students met to take part in a “Visioning” process to help determine the kinds of features that should be included in our new high school. Based upon that input, BSHM Architects has been able to establish the overall layout and look of the new school. Over the summer the architects have continued to work, refining the school’s design. They are currently scheduled to be finished in early January 2021. The District’s Construction Manager, Greenspace, Inc., will seek bids from sub-contractors starting in February.
One portion of the work, consisting of site preparation and underground utilities, has already been issued for bids. This “Early Site Package” will allow construction to begin this August. Fencing, signage and traffic flow have all been carefully considered to keep students, staff and visitors safe while coming to and from school this year. It won’t be long now before those big construction trucks start digging!
June 2020
Renderings have been posted above! The new masonry brick building includes changes in brick
coloring that will provide both depth and balance and our design team is
studying the possible integration of sandstone into the design. Large
windows allowing for natural light in classrooms, entry points and the
cafeteria, which will connect to the existing high school, are included
throughout the building.
Looking ahead, site preparation is slated to begin this fall with construction continuing through the spring of 2022 and we are optimistic that the building will be ready for the 2022-2023 school year. Click here to read the print version.
January 2020
Construction Manager at Risk hired: Mr. Tim Rini from Greenspace
Visioning Meetings continue with students, staff and community members.
December 2019
Visioning Meetings begin!
Architects, community members talk vision for new Firelands High School: Chronicle Telegram, December 6, 2019
Commisioning Agent hired: Mr. Doug Lancashire, President of Osborn Engineering
October 2019
The district and the OFCC jointly selected BSHM as the
architectural firm to design our new high school. Now that the architect
is in place, the selection process for the construction manager will begin.
September 2019
The construction update continues on the boys and girls bathrooms at Firelands High School. The set of bathrooms on the south end are fully operational and in compliance with the ADA. It is anticipated that the north set will be complete soon.
August 2019
This fall, the district, in cooperation with the OFCC, will select the architect and construction manager, with the design of the building formally commencing this December.
Current FHS students will be able to utilize updated bathrooms (originally constructed in the 1950's and 1970's) and new LED lighting throughout the building. These two projects are part of repurposing the current building for future middle school students while addressing safety and functionality concerns for the current population.
July 2019
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) voted unanimously to approve a new round of school building and renovation projects for FY20, authorizing funding for work in nine districts (including Firelands). All nine have their local share of funding from voters secure, meaning the projects can go forward pending approval from the Controlling Board.
May 2019
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) approved the summer agenda- which includes our building project
February 2019
Food Service site studies were initiated to best understand current strategies
January 2019
- Phase 1 Environmental Assessment completed
- Wetland Delineation completed
- Geotechnical Report completed
- Site Survey completed
December 2018, 9.9 million dollars of notes for this project were sold and the beginning phases of site work scheduled.
November 2018, the community passed a 4.28 mil bond issue that calls for the construction of a new 9-12 grade high school. The existing high school will be re-purposed as the middle school and Board of Education. The new building will be built on district owned property, just North of the existing high school.