MLPS Building Committee, architect begin focus on available options
It was back on Thursday, February 18 that the Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board and its Building Committee met with Paul Youngquist, architect of Architects Rego + Youngquist, Inc. (ARY) of St. Louis Park, to discuss building improvements needed campus-wide at MLPS.
The entire slate of board members were on hand – Chair Doug Standerwick, Vice-Chair Tim Swoboda, Clerk Julie Brugman, Treasurer Pam Hoek and Directors Tom Fast, Matt Gohr and Chad Pedersen. Members of the Building Committee at the meeting included Cheri Hanson, Jerry Haberman, Bruce Swanson, Bryan Bargen, Vern Peterson, Tom Appel and John Carrison. Also in attendance was MLPS Superintendent Bill Strom.
For more information on that joint meeting, go to: http://www.cross-countiesconnect.com/2016/02/school-building-improvement-baby-steps/.
Four days later, at the School Board’s Monday, February 22 meeting, the MLPS Building Committee was given its task concerning the decision-making ahead. That task – to work with Youngquist in order to create a building project proposal/plan to be presented to the School Board for consideration and approval.
Once that task is completed – a building project proposal/plan approved by the School Board – the Building Committee will join the School Board in conducting public information meetings in advance of a building bond vote. In addition, the Building Committee will keep the School Board informed of their progress.
The committee and Youngquist held its first planning meeting on Tuesday evening, March 15, taking early steps on arranging the building blocks. Also attending the meetings on a rotating basis are school board members. At this week’s meeting, Tom Fast and Matt Gohr represented the board. Committee Member Appel opened the meeting in the absence of Tim Swoboda.
According to Appel, “There was lots of productive and positive discussion on the options available. Youngquist encouraged us to form a broad plan first; set the big pieces in place.”
He noted that any building plan will most likely be centered around new boilers to heat the school.
Appel added that the area of most controversy was, “What to do about the swimming pool? That got a long look. There was much discussion on moving band, choir and elementary music into the pool location.”
Another chunk of time was spent talking about the future of the 1890 building. If demolished, questions were raised on what to do with that space.
“We want to get it (any plans) down to a reasonable price tag.”
Another meeting between the Building Committee and Youngquist will be held on Thursday, March 24, beginning at 6 p.m., in Room #1 in Mountain Lake Public High School.
About Paul Youngquist and ARY
ARY is a planning and design firm that specializes in community facilities in the State of Minnesota. A complete range of architectural and engineering services has been provided to public organizations since 1956 including master planning, new facilities, remodeling and accessibility studies. The educational facilities market constitutes the largest specialty group within the firm. That experience in serving school districts and communities for 40 years has allowed ARY to see the changing faces of education. ARY is proud of its team’s experience, creativity, practical approach to design and attentive follow-through in every step of your project.
Youngquist is ARY’s Principal-in-Charge with 30 years of experience in the design and construction of educational and institutional facilities. As a school architect, he has worked with school communities at all levels of facility improvement – from planning and analysis to new facilities, additions and renovation work. His duties include project management, planning, design, cost estimating, survey and facility reports, specification writing and site observations. He is involved in the data gathering and design phases, and will supervise the production of construction documents and construction administration. Youngquist graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1974 with a Bachelor of Architecture.
The firm was selected last year by the School Board and Building Committee from the four that submitted interest.