The Pennsbury School District is beginning the design process for its new high school with a series of public meetings, starting with the introduction of the architectural firm tasked with shaping the future building, which will be used for decades.
The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 15th at 6pm in the Pennsbury High School East Campus cafeteria.
Community members can work with KCBA Architects, a Montgomery County-based firm selected for the project. Director Dr. Thomas Smith said the company will discuss design ideas and projects during the scheduled 1.5-hour meeting.
The decision to hire KCBA Architects for $8.8 million was made by the school board in March in a 6-2 vote.
“Once an architect is selected, the design process begins. Multiple meetings will be held with community members, students, and staff to provide input on the final design,” Smith said. said in an email to the community.
Another important meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the Fallsington Elementary School auditorium.
The meeting will include the school board meeting with the construction management company that may oversee the project. The meeting is open to the public and will be recorded for those unable to attend.
Smith expects a construction management company to be hired at the May 16 school board meeting.
KCBA Architects designed the ongoing renovations at Charles Boehm Middle School.
Earlier this year, the school proposed a design brief called ‘Pennsbury Path’, which aims to create a multi-purpose, environmentally sustainable and welcoming high school. The company said it aims to enhance safety, optimize natural light and improve traffic flow within the school grounds.
The district’s goal is for the new high school to open in the winter of 2029. Construction could begin next year.
The project is expected to cost between $240 million and $275 million, span between 475,000 square feet and 505,000 square feet, and accommodate up to 2,800 students.
District Chief Financial Officer Chris Berdnik outlined a financial strategy that includes tax increases for capital projects and a potential bond issue, estimating total principal and interest payments could reach $569.4 million. did.
The district is working to keep the project under $250 million to avoid a voter referendum.
The new high school project will be the largest in Pennsbury history.
The aging high school is now split into two buildings and has the largest student population of any Bucks County high school, according to data from Niche.com.
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