BLDD Architects presented the Mahomet-Seymour School Board with design drafts for both Middletown Park and Mahomet-Seymour High School library, commons and auditorium renovations Monday night.
The Mahomet-Seymour School board voted to put Middletown Park renovations out to bid again after bids came in too high late last summer. BLDD modified the original plan, which included 55 parking spots, sidewalks winding through the park and a memorial to commemorate Middletown Elementary and Joseph Royer, the architect of the building, to include 37 parking spots with asphalt, re-pavement of the drive that runs along the east side of Mahomet-Seymour Junior High and a memorial space, which will include a few benches and a sidewalk along the southeast corner of the green space.
The school board is hopeful bids will come in on budget this time as they are advertising this project while companies are still making their summer construction plans. These Middletown Park plans are preliminary and may be modified as the budget allows.
[gview file=”https://mahometdaily.com/newmd/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FG-Civil-Middletown-Parking-Lot-004.pdf”]
BLDD also presented plans to renovate the auditorium, commons and library at Mahomet-Seymour High School after receiving feedback from students and faculty over the last few weeks.
BLDD Architect Damien Schlitt showed the board how they “hacked” the library space with the help of Jackson Construction and Zeller Digital to gather what the school needed to function in the years ahead.
Overwhelmingly, students enjoyed the variety of seating arrangements and styles, which included booths with technology available or a quiet lounge area with plush chairs. Students were also insistent that the space needed to include quiet sections for studying. Schlitt said he was also surprised with how pragmatic students were. He told the board one student used post-it notes to display how much each television cost.
Both students and the Librarian Lauren Ochs enjoyed having the circulation desk in the middle of the library. Students also voiced a need for a coffee area in the space, as they enjoy going to the Mahomet Public Library to study because the library offers a way for them to make hot drinks.
With the information collected, BLDD came up with a first draft of what the space could become during the summer. These plans are preliminary, a base design and may be modified as the budget allows.
[gview file=”https://mahometdaily.com/newmd/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FLOOR-PLAN-DRAFT.pdf”]
The MSHS auditorium will also get much needed upgrades with new HVAC, house lighting, a new audio system, a level floor that can also be used for study hall seating and new ceiling and floor.
