O'Fallon's New Joseph Arthur Middle School Dedication Set For September 14
O’FALLON, IL. – This fall, students in Central School District #104 in O’Fallon have the honor of being the first to attend classes in the district’s newest building, to be dedicated as Joseph Arthur Middle School in a ceremony and building tour from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14.
Located at 160 St. Ellen Mine Road, the first middle school for District #104 was completed under budget and ahead of schedule by Holland Construction Services, Inc. Wm. B. Ittner, Inc. of St. Louis designed the $6.5 million, 35,888-square-foot structure to fit current needs by relieving overcrowding and using dedicated spaces with a true “middle school” approach.
District #104 Superintendent Steve Amizich said Holland Construction Services, Wm. B. Ittner, BriC Partnership, Hoelscher Engineering, P.C. and SCI Engineering, Inc. all played important roles in the project.
“Holland ’s knowledge of every phase of the construction process ensured a quality job on-schedule and under budget,” Amizich said. “HCS’s knowledge was evident in the early planning. Construction costs were reduced by tailoring bid packages to our project and the market.
Holland’s strong working relationships with building trades, sub contractors and professional service providers were critical to getting good bids, getting the job done on time, and ensuring a competitive price and quality product, he added. “When Central School District # 104 chose HCS, they hit the ball out of the park.”
The new school immediately relieves overcrowding throughout the district, providing extra classrooms, cafeteria, library, music facilities, gym and office space. It adds 20-plus acres of green space and athletic fields.
And most of all, Amizich added, it allows educational program expansion and improvements like implementing the middle school concept that otherwise would be inconceivable, incorporating an approachable, core staff dedicated to a specific group of students with a smaller staff-to-student ratio and providing for special needs students.
For Central Elementary School, the opening of Joseph Arthur Middle School means the opportunity to improve its programs and curriculum by adding computer instruction, a library and an art program. Improved student learning, student and parent satisfaction, and safety are benefits that will continue to grow and pay dividends well into Central School District #104’s future, Amizich said.
The school is being dedicated to the memory of Joseph Arthur, who was the Superintendent of Central School District for almost 20 years. His leadership, dedication and his ability to bring positive change for students and employees were qualities for which the district is very grateful. A weeping cherry tree was also planted in Arthur’s memory to bring beauty and hope, while serving as a reminder for faculty and students to appreciate life’s often overlooked gifts.
Holland Construction Services is a full-service contracting and construction management firm based in Swansea, Ill., guided by the principle of delivering total customer satisfaction. Now in its 22nd year, the company has been providing quality construction throughout Missouri and Illinois since 1986, when it was founded by Bruce Holland.
HCS offers design/build, general contracting and construction management services to commercial, retail, healthcare, senior living, light industrial, recreational and educational clients. In 2006, The St. Louis Business Journal ranked the firm as one of the top 15 contractors in the St. Louis area.
Ittner is a leading design firm with offices in Fairview Heights and St. Louis. It is recognized nationally for innovations in school planning and design, and is a leader in many areas, including architectural and interior design, strategic planning, furniture procurement and health life safety.
Ittner is recognized for designing the first kindergarten in the country, developing a design that has created today’s modern schoolhouse. The firm designed the New Wildwood Campus for St. Louis Community College; the largest LEED “gold” certified college campus in the Midwest.
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