Bryan ISD Board unanimously approves phases on three different 2020 bond projects

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - It’s full steam ahead on a number of projects included in Bryan Independent School District’s 2020 bond, as the board of trustees voted unanimously to approve certain phases of each one on their agenda at Monday’s meeting.

The highest profile of the projects discussed is Intermediate 3, a brand new school for 5th and 6th graders that will be built across the street from Bonham Elementary School at the intersection of Tabor Road and Highway 6. Design plans were presented to and approved by the board during the meeting.

“We’re at the 25% level that we are on track with how they envision the Intermediate 3 to look, appear, and feel, and how the architectural firm is designing this building,” Bryan ISD Director of Construction & Energy Management Paul Buckner said.

The total project construction cost for Intermediate 3 is currently estimated to be just over $55.1 million.

The board also approved the architect firms that will take the reigns on two other projects. PBK, who is also designing Intermediate 3, will design the new fence that will surround Merrill Green Stadium at Bryan High School, along with other renovations. Those include improvements like painting and minor electrical and plumbing work, Buckner says.

“The fencing around Merrill Green is primarily for security for the field during on-campus hours,” Buckner said. “It’s just time to renovate that, spruce it up, and make Merrill Green kind of like a standout football stadium for Central Texas.”

Now that an architect has been officially approved, Buckner says details like costs and the type of fencing that will be used can be determined.

Corgan is set to design the 14 classroom addition project at Rudder High School. Buckner says all of Rudder’s 2020 bond work will be completed in one package to minimize both costs and disruptions at the school.

“The hope is to get rid of a vast majority of the portables,” Buckner said. “We do have some classes that are in the portables that we can’t relocate because of what they are, for instance, cosmetology and barbering. Those will remain, but the vast majority of the portables will be gone.”

Buckner says it’s too early in the Rudder project to have any sort of timeline on when all the work will be completed. The fencing around Merrill Green Stadium should be completed before football season starts next fall, while Intermediate 3 is expected to be done in time for students to begin classes in 2023.

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