Building Our Future - Phase II

Memorial Park Update

Dear Oberlin City Schools Community,

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a top-tier educational experience for our students, we are pleased to announce the planning stage of a new facility specifically designed for our 6th through 8th-grade students. This new facility represents a significant investment in the future of our community and the education of our children.

The new 6-8 facility will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, advanced technology, and innovative learning spaces tailored to meet the unique needs of middle school students. Our goal is to create an environment that fosters academic excellence, creativity, and social development.

We recognize that the success of this project depends on the support and involvement of our entire community. Throughout the planning and construction phases, we will be hosting a series of informational sessions and community forums to provide updates and gather your valuable input.

Your feedback is essential in ensuring that the new facility meets the needs and expectations of our students, parents, and educators.

The District has not finalized any design or athletic facilities plans. We are in the early stages of this process. We have enclosed a slideshow with a design concept to determine if space was available for a 6-12 facility.

At Oberlin City Schools, we are dedicated to providing an educational environment where every student can thrive. The new 6-8 facility is a testament to our commitment to excellence and our belief in the potential of every child. We are confident that this new facility will inspire and empower our students, preparing them for success in high school and beyond.

We will keep you informed about the progress of this exciting project through regular updates on our website, newsletters, Board Meetings, and community meetings. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Oberlin City Schools. Together, we are building a brighter future for our students and our community.

In the summer of 2023, Oberlin City Schools began revisiting their facility master plan to examine how to address the district's next set of facility challenges. They met with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and Hammond Construction to explore Phase 2 of these plans, which includes exploring construction costs, site impacts, state funding, and preliminary layouts for grades 6-12.

History of the Master Plan

Oberlin City Schools first developed a master plan in 2018 outlining their priority needs for replacing all the aging infrastructure for the K-12 grade levels in the district. After thorough assessments of all their school facilities, planning, and engagement with community members, teachers, and district staff, a plan was set.

The first phase of this plan included replacing the elementary school, which addressed grades PK-5.

This was completed in 2021 with the opening of Oberlin's new PK-5 Elementary School. This new facility replaced two existing, oversized elementary schools and provided a fresh, bright, and technologically advanced school for the district's youngest learners. This ecologically friendly school was built with an attached solar array that provides 80% of the school’s energy costs and engages students through an attached energy dashboard. Along with improving the educational environment, the building itself became a learning tool.

Phase 2 was exploring how to address grades 6-12: Langston Middle School and Oberlin High School.

Overview of the Process

During the summer of 2023, a team from the district administration, select board members, and design and construction professionals met to examine various scenarios for Phase 2 of Oberlin’s Facilities Master Plan. This included comparing the costs and phasing of building either a new 6-12 school, a 6-8 school with the option of adding future grades, or just a new 9-12 school. A primary goal of these plans was to ensure that students could stay in their existing buildings while the new schools were constructed. Additionally, state funding sources were explored, which included enrolling in the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's (OFCC) Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP). Utilizing this program ensured that the district would get a future credit from the state if they designed and built the school using state guidelines.

The team met bi-weekly, conducting "site fit tests" and performing construction estimations to ensure the plan's viability. The group also explored how the current Oberlin Campus could support a new building in terms of traffic circulation, stormwater management, and future athletic field needs. Finally, they examined different ways to phase construction if a smaller portion was built first.

Ultimately, after exploring the district’s bonding cap, square footage needs, and the amenities necessary for the new school, the district felt the best financial and educational plan was to focus on building a 6-8 school now that could be designed for expansion in the years ahead.

Community engagement occurred during the process through Board of Education meetings and an open community session where attendees came to ask questions about the plan and methodology.

The Plan

An overarching goal of the plan was to identify a way to satisfy the short and long-term needs of the district while also being the most cost-effective and attainable solution.

With the support of TDA and Hammond Construction, the district decided that constructing a new 55,000 sf 6-8 middle school while making site improvements was the best solution for the district. Then, when the additional state credit from the OFCC becomes available, the district can consider using that to finish constructing the 9-12 portion of the building, making it a 6-12 school.

Initial schematics for the new building demonstrate how the existing school can remain in operation while the new building is constructed and also support additional site circulation and athletic facilities as the whole plan is realized.

Website Presentation

Board Meeting (Study Session) - September 10, 2024

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the Oberlin City School District Board of Education held a Public Study Session to discuss the new 6-8 facility. During the session, the District provided information on how we will fund the facility without a Bond issue. The District will sell current bonds, use Nexus pipeline funding, utilize existing funds, and use remaining Phase I project funds to finance the building.

The District developed an estimated tentative timeline. A more detailed timeline will be created once an architect and construction manager have been selected. The new 6-8 facility is expected to be completed by August 2027.

Board Meeting - September 24, 2024

At the Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Oberlin City School District Board of Education meeting, the Board of Education hired TDA (Then Design Architecture) (TDA Website) to design the new 6-8 facility. TDA designed our Oberlin Elementary School, and has experience designing buildings in the area, including the new North Ridgeville High School. The District hired Hammond Construction (Hammond Website) as the construction manager for the project. Hammond Construction has 50 years of experience and has completed $3 billion in educational, health care, and commercial construction projects.

New 6-8 Middle School Fall 2024 Update

The Oberlin City School District Board of Education approved contracts for ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and Hammond Construction on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 to spearhead the design and construction for the new Oberlin 6-8 Middle School project. This new 55,000-square-foot middle school will be built adjacent to the existing Oberlin High School as Phase 2 of a 3-phased project, transforming this site into a District-wide K-12 school campus.

While the District originally intended to fund the project with a $22 million bond issue on the November 2024 ballot, they subsequently removed it after restructuring the revenue sources through upcoming Nexus Pipeline funding and additional resources available in existing school District accounts.

The new school will be a multi-story building constructed east of the existing Oberlin High School. It will feature a full-size regulation gymnasium with locker rooms, classroom wings with enhanced technology, air conditioning, and kitchen and student dining spaces. The school site was chosen based on the proposed location of a future Phase 3 of the project, which includes a new 9-12 high school that will ultimately be attached to the new middle school to create a 6-12 school once complete.

Project Manager at ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) Mr. Brad Gellert looks forward to the design process ahead.

“The architectural and engineering team is meeting with middle school staff, local officials, and sustainability leaders to obtain as much input as possible into the middle school's design,” Mr. Gellert said.

In Fall of 2024, TDA will launch a series of information-gathering events to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to provide input on the design and features of the new school facility. It includes interviews with 6-8 grade teachers, administrators, and staff, who will inform designers of the space requirements and activities necessary for the new school, classrooms, and any ancillary space needs. On Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, an “Eco Charrette” was held for various District staff, administrators, city representatives, project architects, engineers, and Hammond Construction. At this session, the group identified the sustainable features to be implemented in the new school.

Input gathered at these sessions will form the foundation of the new school’s schematic design and preliminary layout. Additional opportunities will be available for the community to provide input on design elements as the process continues.

While TDA is developing the architectural design for the new school, Hammond Construction is building a project schedule that includes key milestone dates. This encompasses dates for the completion of design phases, and major construction milestones to ensure the project stays on track. As the construction manager-at-risk (CMR), Hammond Construction will manage the construction process and lead activities that include safety management, site logistics, construction trades, master schedule management, and budget reconciliations.

The District is committed to providing more updates as the process develops.

Next Steps

The Facilities Team will be meeting with staff and community members in the coming weeks to kick off the design phase for the new middle school project. We’re thrilled to begin this process! Your input will be invaluable as we shape a space that meets the needs of our students. Together, we can create a vibrant and inspiring learning environment for everyone.

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