Local Taxpayers Demand Value for Publicly Funded Construction-Masonry Provides Solution

Ohio is a state that funds the construction and operation of its local public school systems primarily through voter-approved property taxes. School districts struggle hard to pass increases in property taxes to fund new construction or improvements to existing facilities. They are then further challenged to achieve a fragile balance between attractive design and cost-effective construction in order to demonstrate that the public is receiving value for every dollar spent in order to generate future voter support of construction and operating costs.

The Big Walnut School District in Sunbury, Ohio, is a formerly rural, consolidated school district located on the expanding fringes of the Columbus metropolitan area. Residents expect substantial, enduring facilities which provide quality program space without frills, excess or extravagance.

The selection of concrete masonry as the basic building material for the 151,115 sq ft, 1,000-student high school was therefore made with considerable thought about the impression it would make on the public. A natural choice, this utilitarian building product is known and used by everyone. It is universally accepted as durable, economical and value-based.

The facility includes masonry load-bearing walls, and steel frame for the academic/commons/administrative areas and pre-engineered steel structure with masonry walls for the auditorium/gymnasium areas. Over 210,000 concrete masonry units were used on the project including approximately 96,500 split-face units and 32,000 insulated blocks. A water repellant was added during the manufacturing of all exterior units.

A sensitive combination of three split faced units-taupe, warm tone and red units with compatible colored masonry cement mortars-was used in both interior and exterior applications. Smooth half-high bands were used as accents on both the exterior and the interior of the building, enhancing its attractiveness and giving added value to the dollars spent on the project.

Sharing a 65-acre site with the former high school, the new facility is positioned on the edge of a ridge overlooking the Big Walnut Creek basin and the school's ecology center/nature preserve. Terraced sports fields flank the new access drive providing a separate entrance for the new high school and linking the two facilities.

Construction began in the spring of 1990 and the facility was substantially completed in September, 1991. At a construction cost of $59.85/sq. ft, people of the community felt that their tax dollars were judiciously used. The building set a standard for the level of quality that can be provided for their tax dollars.

Architect: Schooley Caldwell Associates, Columbus, Ohio

 
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