Heights High design phase planning meetings to wrap up in September

The architects presented their plans for a renovated Heights High at a meeting on Aug. 19.

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District considers September to be a critical period in the design phase of planning for the renovated Cleveland Heights High School, and two public meetings are scheduled this month, on Sept. 16 and Sept. 30. Both meetings will take place at 7 p.m. at the Delisle Center, 14780 Superior Road.

"The community is encouraged to show up, see the latest plans and share your enthusiasm, concerns and questions during the public comment portions of the meetings," stated Ron Register, school board president.

BSHM Architects are currently revising the floor plan that was presented at the Aug. 19 special meeting to align with the budget. “Right now, we have more square footage in the plan than the budget is allowing,” said Gary Balog, lead architect from BSHM. “The 1926 elevations that were presented in August were well-received. We just need to make some floor revisions to stay within the construction budget. This is typical at this phase of the work. Our challenge has been fitting the more modern, larger learning spaces into the existing shell; but we are getting closer.”

At the Sept. 16 meeting, BSHM will present exterior elevations and the site plan, parking, HVAC (heating, venting and air conditioning) options, and a cost-benefit analysis, and provide an update on the building plan that will include the floor plan revisions.

At the Sept. 30 meeting, the architects will present a final design package that includes the building and site plans, parking and HVAC, and the construction team will present the budget. The teams will then ask the Board of Education for approval to move into the design development phase. During this phase, the architects will work even more closely with teachers and students to get to the more detailed design work.

After the Sept. 30 meeting, BSHM will create visual representations of the new Cleveland Heights High School that will be placed on the district’s website and in schools, libraries and businesses, so that everyone—even those who haven’t been attending the community meetings—can see and look forward to the construction phase of the renovated high school.