Construction workers connected the final beam to Desert Skies Middle School, marking the completion of a significant step.
“This is a huge milestone," Project Manager for Core Construction Taylor Laack says. "What this means is that we've completed the outside major structure of the building, and we can start heading toward getting the inside finishes complete.”
Before the last bean went up, a small group of students who will attend Desert Skies got to sign their name on the beam and take a look at the construction site.
“I think it's fun seeing the construction,” eleven year old Jesse Bravo says.
Desert Skies will relieve over crowding at Fred Traner Middle School and Sparks Middle School, as well as four elementary schools: Esther Bennett, Virginia Palmer, Sun Valley and Lois Allen.
While Laack says about half of the project still needs to be completed, the outside is almost finished.
“Get this last building closed up with a roof, and start getting the glass in on the exteriors," Laack says. "And then we'll start heading towards out inside finishes: drywall, paint, carpet, cabinets. And get it towards the finish line.”
The project is on schedule and set to open for the 2019-2020 school year.
Principal of Desert Skies Laura Petersen says it will be a 21st century school, meaning teachers will have digital tools at their disposal, and each student will be given an electronic device.
Petersen says the building is also versatile for teachers, providing a wide range of rooms for teachers to use.
“There's new learning spaces in the building," Principal of Desert Skies Laura Petersen says, "There's flexible HUB spaces to use, there's larger class sizes, different class sizes, labs … a variety of learning spaces that will really help all students to find their niche and find places where they do their best learning."
