Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories regarding the potential renovation or replacement of Xenia High School and Warner Middle School. Today we discuss the Warner assessment. Tomorrow we will discuss the available options.
XENIA — New high school and middle school buildings could be coming to Xenia.
At the very least, the current buildings need to be renovated and expanded. That’s what a building assessment by the Ohio School Facilities Commission showed.
The OSFC study determined that the buildings need to be brought up to code, made ADA compliant and have much of the inner workings replaced.
Xenia Community School District Board of Education members and district officials will soon decide whether to replace and expand or build new.
Based on the assessment, a major building project appears to be imminent. And the OSFC is willing to kick in a lot of money.
“The board knows that the issues with these buildings need to be addressed sooner rather than later,” Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Christy Fielding said. “They are extremely motivated by the potential of the state’s offer to contribute millions of dollars ($26.5 to $31.9 million) toward a solution and are focused on moving forward with submitting a master plan to the state. They have been actively working with the community to determine what that plan should look like.”
No matter the plan, a lot of work is needed at the middle school.
Warner was built in 1962 and has 116,110 square feet on 19.2 acres including the 1967 addition.
Renovation is estimated at $18.1 million which would correct myriad inefficiencies and issues.
Much like the high school, the original heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is in fair to poor condition. The assessment recommends a new HVAC system to achieve compliance with Ohio Building Code and Ohio School Design standards and to convert to a duct system to facilitate efficient exchange of conditioned air.
The total cost for repair, when applicable, and replacement is $4.01 million.
Sections of the roof need to be repaired and replaced but there have been no district reports about leaking.
The electrical system is in fair condition and has been updated incrementally, but replacement — including an emergency generator — is recommended. The panel system, original to each addition, can’t be expanded to add additional capacity. And the classrooms are not adequately equipped with electrical outlets. In general, the system does not meet current Ohio School Design Manual requirements and will be inadequate to meet the facility’s future needs.
The plumbing system system is in fair to mostly poor condition and has very few ADA-compliant components. Replacement is recommended and is to include 41 faucets and valves, 43 toilets, 28 urinals and 41 lavatories.
The aluminum windows throughout the building need to be replaced, while some exterior walls and chimneys need repair.
“General finishes” items needing to be replaced include toilet accessories and partitions, kitchen equipment, gymnasium bleachers and interior lighting.
Interior entrances are not ADA accessible due to door clearances. A new power-assist door opener, two elevators with four stops, four water coolers, 12 toilets, 14 sinks, six urinals, 12 toilet partitions, 32 toilet accessories, 83 doors and frames and 12 door hardware sets are needed to bring the building up to ADA compliance.
The technology system, exterior doors, loose furnishings such as desks and chairs, sidewalks and asphalt parking lots need to be replaced as well.
Unlike the high school, the building is not operating over its capacity of 823 students. As of the time of the assessment, the enrollment is 576.
