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Description
Cornerstone was selected by the Anchorage School District as Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) for the design and construction of a renewed Service High School, a 180,000 SF school originally built in 1971 and currently serving about 1,775 students. The work included demolition, renovation, and new construction to address a wide range of deficiencies and respond to existing features, as designed in cooperation with a design team led by Architects Alaska. The school remained operational throughout construction.
Cornerstone divided the work into eight phases inclusive of Building C (one phase), Buildings B & EF (six phases), and the Grant Fraser Memorial Auditorium (one phase). Building C included a complete renovation of traditional classrooms, life skills classrooms with kitchen and living areas, a special needs classroom, computer rooms, and offices, with a new mechanical house added to the roof level. The thermal envelope, mechanical and electrical systems, and fire sprinklers were completely upgraded.
In Buildings B & EF, six complex phases included extensive asbestos abatement and demolition, complete interior build-back, and new site civil improvements. Each phase met its own completion milestone, received a certificate of occupancy, and was turned over for school use ahead of schedule. The thermal envelope, mechanical and electrical systems, and fire sprinklers were completely upgraded. The library was overhauled to include a new intricate steel structure, centralized circulation desk, computer workstations, and study areas. Student dining received five new satellite food courts, storefront vestibule entrances, and A/V equipment upgrades. Accompanying the satellite food courts is a new kitchen with revamped spaces, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems, and new commercial grade stainless steel equipment. The fully redesigned loading dock area north of the kitchen was also completed to incorporate a more space efficient dock lift design with related site improvements.
The project concluded with the completion of a major renovation of the Grant Fraser Memorial Auditorium. This asbestos-abated space received an upgraded HVAC system and electrical overhaul including new A/V equipment, theater controls, and lighting. The old hard plastic theater seats were replaced with new cushioned, school color coordinated seating with removable sections for accessibility. The acoustical extent was also redesigned with new acoustical ceiling clouds, metal wall panels at the theater entrance, and wood wall panels at the main theater area.
Cornerstone had several successes during the course of this project, including creative collaboration with the Municipality of Anchorage, effective early selection of key subcontractors, multiple relocations of major systems, effective emergency responses to both a major wind storm and an earthquake, phased turnovers to allow the school to use new spaces as soon as possible, and maintaining all school operations and excellent relations with the Service community during construction.