Construction Completion Dates For PHS Are Delayed Once Again

Candace Braun

Construction completion dates for Princeton High School have been pushed back again. While all construction work was due for completion by the beginning of January, parts of the project are not expected to be finished before March.

The high school's auditorium is likely to undergo the most serious delay, according to Gary Weisman, director of plant/operations for the Princeton Regional Schools.

Complications with the auditorium's structural design have been the main causes of the delay, he said.

"It's an intricate building to construct .... Things come up as the job progresses," he said. "There's nothing specific we can point to. It's just a complicated structure."

One complication to the overall project was the flood damage to the high school's boiler room, according to Mr. Weisman. Approximately 2 to 3 feet of water flooded the room when the drainage system backed up, causing damage to floor-level equipment.

"A lot of equipment has to be replaced," he said, noting that while "it isn't affecting construction on the building," the boiler room must be ready by January in order to heat the new sections of the high school.

Another priority at this point is enclosing the auditorium, said Mr. Weisman, since it is the only section of the building still vulnerable to the winter weather. Masons are working quickly to put in block and get the area closed off, he added.

"The contractors know the situation with the weather," he said. "At some point it gets too cold to work outside .... They know the push is on."

The gymnasium, which was scheduled for completion by the end of November, and science classrooms, originally scheduled for completion on December 20, have been pushed back to January. The auditorium is now scheduled for completion by late February or early March, according to Mr. Weisman.

The high school construction is part of an $81.3 million plan to renovate all six schools in the district. Construction on the elementary schools and middle school began in March 2003, and was officially completed at the end of summer. PHS began construction in the fall of that same year.

While high school construction areas are still closed off to students and the public, the district will be holding an open house on Tuesday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so that residents can view the completed construction and renovation on Community Park, Littlebrook, Riverside, and Johnson Park Elementary Schools, as well as John Witherspoon Middle School. Escorted tours will be provided for the new science laboratories, classrooms, gymnasium, and swimming pool.