H-W School expansion/remodel a 'go'

CRESCO - With the Howard-Winneshiek School Board giving the “blessing” to move forward on plans for a $16.4 million expansion/remodel, bids will be let out shortly in allowing the project to open up it’s first phase.

Planning construction for the next two years, the expansion will open up space for the H-W Elementary and use current space in the Crestwood High School to basically move the middle school to a new area and revamp rooms for the high school.  New additions will be also added, plus security concerns will be addressed, allowing for what could be called the “new” Howard-Winneshiek School when all is said and done.

Construction would likely start in late August or early September, all depending on the bids, where Emergent Architect Nick Hildebrant and Matt Brace (of Cresco Building Services) stated, should hit budget with target dates likely to be met. 

Drawings/renderings of the many new spaces, including a drawing of what the front of the high school would look like, were offered at the June 18 school board meeting, with additional sketches soon to be available as the month goes on.  

“We’re now at the end of design and development and still have a few minor changes, but can now offer some 3D views of all the spaces, showing colors and what’s offered,” stated Hildebrant in a zoom conference call with the administration and board at the monthly meeting. “We’ll have 50-to-60 images showing everything from what a typical kindergarten room would look like when finished, to a view of the playground area, to the auditorium.”

A drawing of the front of the high school building was offered at the meeting, showing plenty of  “Cadet Blue” with blue glass windows and a stainless steel metal panel that offer different shades of blue, creating some “art” in making an attractive entrance.  A Crestwood “Middle School-High School” sign was also placed in the front, that will have attrative lighting at night and displays the “main entrance” well.

Several board members noted concerns with the front of the HS/MS entrance, with the flooring and other matters, but all was answered by Hildebrant, who pointed out that they had already addressed most everything with the meetings they had over the past several months coordianted with staff/adminstration. 

A rendering of the remodeled auditorium was also featured at the meeting, showing no balcony (however, the feeling of a balcony), and offering new seating, new audio, new lighting, improvements on the stage and plenty more. 

A view of the new music room was also offered, displaying the shear size of the new space available and additional one-on-one spaces. 

Other renderings were also shown at the meeting, such as classrooms, an overview of the entire project, and more.  Once completed, the many drawings should be available for the public to view (possibly in September).  

Emergent also commented about the phases needed to do the project, which they were still working on at the time of the meeting.  Hildebrant noted they will “do their best” to accommodate staff, students and the public as the work proceeds.