North Hills school libraries to get remodeled during summer

The North Hills School Board has hired The Design Alliance Architects to plan the remodeling of the high school and middle school libraries, scheduled for this summer.

Student needs and teachers' needs have evolved over time in regard to information literacy and what they do in that library, and our facilities need to be upgraded to meet those needs, said Jeff Taylor, assistant superintendent for curriculum, assessment and special programs.

There's more of a focus on collaboration and creation in our libraries than when we were growing up in libraries, he continued. Now, libraries have research, but (we) want places where kids can get together, create videos and work on projects.

The school board approved the architectural contract by a 5-0 vote at the March 12 meeting. Board President Ed Wielgus and board members Arlene Bender, Tom Kelly and Tim Burnett were absent.

The firm, based in downtown Pittsburgh, will get 11.5 percent of the project cost for the high school library, estimated at $712,050. At that cost, the firm would make $85,386, including field verification. The firm also will get 13.5 percent of the project cost for the middle school library, estimated at $107,315. At that cost, the firm would make $16,988, including field verification.

The actual design costs could vary, depending on the actual cost of the projects and expenses. Cost estimates for the remodeling do not include furniture and equipment.

The high school library had some work done in 2007 as part of the high school's remodeling project, Taylor said.

You'll get an extra classroom in the high school library, a mini video-production studio, a mini audio-production studio, four small-group study rooms, two reading areas, more computer stations, Taylor said about the new project. The charging stations will be built into the furniture, so students can recharge their laptops and mobile devices.

There will be 150 wireless connections in the remodeled high school library.

The remodeling of the middle school library involves putting in a creation station where students can work together, recharging stations built into the furniture, new shelving, new furniture and a new reading area.

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North Hills school libraries to get remodeled during summer