How will State College’s aging middle school be updated? Board hears 3 possible options
State College Area School District is moving forward with updating Park Forest Middle School, and heard three possible options on Monday night for the 53-year-old school.
Park Forest Middle School was constructed in 1971 but last renovated in 1995, the last of the district’s buildings to undergo major renovations. As part of the multi-pronged district facilities-wide master plan, Park Forest will either be replaced or receive major updates and renovations.
During a Monday night meeting, the facilities committee presented the board with three preliminary options to address the middle school’s aging facilities:
Update and add on to the existing Park Forest Middle School at 2180 School Drive
Build a new school across Valley Vista Drive, on district-owned land referred to as the “Haugh track”
Build a new school adjacent to the current building in the wooded property along School Drive
The plans were developed by Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates, who were hired as architectural consultants for the district-wide facilities master plan in September for $461,434.
Jeff Straub, principal at CRA, said site tests are in progress to determine the advantages and challenges for each. With plans so early in the developmental process, CRA could not give any cost estimates or budgetary impacts for any of the three plans.
The plans were developed only using viable land the district already owns but the administration would look into other options if directed by the board, according to Randy Brown, SCASD Finance and Operations Director.
“The property the district owns is where we have been focusing our efforts on for possible designs for a middle school,” Brown said.
Renovations and updates
Building updates would include two-story classroom additions, as well as a relocated main entrance. However, the building itself and its surrounding land are limited in construction possibilities. Updates would require large amounts of reconfiguration to accommodate current educational models. Construction could also impact student learning due to the property’s limited space.
And some of the existing problems with Park Forest Middle School are not only building issues, but also site issues. Drainage is a major problem for the school as well as the surrounding fields and play areas.
Valley Vista location
Starting new would allow the district to have full control over the floor plan and effectively start fresh. Constructing would not only include a new building but also all other site infrastructure to ensure student safety, board member Gretchen Brandt said.
“That would obviously include an additional cost in terms of students crossing Valley Vista,” Brandt said. “So whether that would be a bridge or a tunnel or some type of way to make it possible for students to cross that street safely.”
New construction does pose some advantages when compared to additions and renovations, Straub said.
“New construction is always more attractive to contractors than additions and renovations, especially around education,” Straub said.
Wooded property plan
Option three would help to expand the available space for the Park Forest Middle and Elementary campus, making more room for parking, play areas and safety. However, the area is heavily wooded and sloped, possibly creating additional costs.
School Drive also bisects the potential campus for option three, posing safety concerns and increased infrastructure needs.
According to the master plan timeline, construction on the Park Forest Middle School project will begin in 2025 and end in the spring of 2028. The administration is putting together a schedule for stakeholder engagement on the Park Forest Middle School project, which will be released at the board’s Jan. 22 meeting.
What’s next for Mount Nittany renovations?
During the meeting, the board also approved a 30% design plan for the Mount Nittany Elementary renovations. The renovations include a new wing of the building, new sports fields, a new bus loop and parking spaces. Following the board’s unanimous approval, the administration and CRA will move onto a 60% design plan for the renovations.
At the board’s Jan. 22 meeting, there will be internal and external renderings of the additions as well as information on the estimated costs.