Mark Demianovich

Thesis Abstract

Executive Summary

The most important finding of the construction project for the Bellefonte area high school was that the project is a multiphase project that includes more than simply building a new high school.  This project is also a demolition project, a renovation project, and a new construction project.  The old Bellefonte High School needed to be larger to contain enough space for the growing student population.  Upon inspection of the building for renovation purposes, asbestos was found to be present on the site.  This construction project will remove asbestos from the old school, perform renovations on parts of the school, and build new wings to meet growing demand for more space for more students.  Additional parking will also be a goal of this construction project because the current capacity is not sufficient in hading the parking needs of the school.  When dealing with any school district, money will always be an important factor to consider, especially in performing additions that are heavy on upfront costs.  The budget of this project could have a very large affect on the ability to make LEED changes to the building, one of the areas I would like to look at for research.  The building itself is not LEED rated and the new additions will be either.  Time and occupancy factors will have the greatest impact on the site concerning completion of the project on time, under budget, and with the utmost safety precautions.  This project has multiple parts and renovations to multiple areas, but I will be focusing on the classroom space as my space of interest.  This will be the most dynamic area after construction has been completed, and will be the main focus of my future research.