Dear Neighbors,
Greetings from Marin Horizon School. I want to thank the many of you who engaged with us over the past year in our building project process. Your input has been extremely helpful and has resulted in many substantive changes to the design. In my continued commitment to transparency, I write to provide you with an update on the project. Below are some FAQ's and their answers to give you more clarity about the construction phase of the project.
Construction Phase FAQS:
Why are we constructing a new building?
Our top priority remains to replace the aging library portable and create an updated and joyful classroom environment for our students that includes additional meeting spaces. The new building (library/first grade/kindergarten/bathroom) represents major upgrades to the current spaces and will better support the great work our teachers and staff do in the existing facilities.
Where will the new classroom/library building be built?
The new building will be nestled between the middle school and primary school buildings. It will be a two-story structure, with new classroom spaces at the ground floor, and a second-floor library with offices and meeting spaces.
When will construction begin?
We expect to start construction on June 17, 2019, the Monday after our Moving On ceremony. It is our plan to get most of the demolition, site preparation, and foundation work done this summer while students are off site.
How long will construction last?
We expect construction to take about 10 months. With a June 2019 start we anticipate completion sometime in April or May, 2020.
Is the multi-use building being constructed next year as well?
No. Although we received entitlements to build the multi-use building, design and construction of it won't take place until fundraising is complete, sometime in the future. Once construction of Phase I is complete, we will evaluate timing of Phase II, but the work will not be back-to-back.
Where is construction staging taking place?
Staging will be contained within the campus; it will take place from the playground area.
Why is the staging happening from the playground and not Montford Avenue?
We had originally considered staging the job from Montford and not using the playground. However, Montford is very narrow, and concerns about deliveries blocking the roadway, adding more traffic to Melrose and Montford Avenues, and physical challenges posed by entering the site from above, precluded our use of this staging area.
Will the turf field, blacktop courts, and playground be useable by neighbors?
Yes, during the school year. The turf field will be fully available, as will a significant portion of the blacktop. Students and neighbors will have access to the playground. The only caveat is the summer - at the moment we don't know what will be open to the public because of the demolition and site preparation work scheduled to take place. When we know more, we will post updates on our website marinhorizon.org.
What can our neighbors expect in terms of noise during the day?
The noise generated during the construction of the new library will vary depending on the tasks being carried out, with the most noise occurring over the summer when demolition of the old portable takes place and excavation of the hillside begins. Throughout the project typical noise will be encountered by trucks delivering materials or equipment backing up, and occasional cutting or use of power tools. Because the school will remain operable, we are sensitive to noise concerns by both neighbors as well as small children and will be keeping it to a minimum at all times.
Whom can I contact if I have questions or see anything of concern during construction?
Respectfully,
Bill Perrine
Head of School
