OPS High School aerial shot. The total construction project has been identified as many seperate projects.

Otsego Schools Project: A Textbook Example of Teamwork

Name: Otsego Schools
Location:Otsego, Michigan
Project Type: New Facilities and Renovations
Square Footage: 241,800 SF New, 205,000 SF Renovation
Completion Date: Fall of 2007

Many Otsego Public Schools students will be heading off to college in the years to come. And when they do, they should feel a sense of home.

That’s because an ambitious construction project—several of them actually—is now underway at the Otsego Public Schools main complex, with CSM Group as the Construction Manager. And when it’s completed, the atmosphere will resemble that of a college setting, with multiple buildings, athletic facilities, and other key components of a complete educational environment located in one spot. Welcome to campus!

Back in 2003 and 2004, it became increasingly apparent that to accommodate Otsego’s growing student population and to properly meet the academic, technological, athletic, and other extra-curricular needs of those students, major changes were needed. And on September 21, 2004, voters in the district agreed, approving $57 million in bonds.

A new look for learning

The project’s single largest component is the construction of a new high school, but it also includes a new alternative education facility, new bus garage, enhanced athletic fields, and significant improvements to all the district’s educational facilities.

The list of project components:

. Dix Street Elementary Renovations
. Alamo Elementary Renovations
. Renovation / conversion of existing Middle School to an Elementary
. Renovation / conversion of existing High School to Middle School
. Construction of the new High School
. West Campus construction (movement of the athletic fields to the area west of the stadium-4 baseball/ softball and 2 practice fields)
. Bus garage construction
. Alternative Education building construction

By expanding the physical footprint of the complex to the west and the addition of several new buildings on the grounds, a "campus" will indeed emerge. And with the repurposing of several district buildings to serve new populations, the first real test students will face at the new facility might be going to the right building for class!

A lesson in co-operation

In times when taxpayers' wallets and patience are stretched thin by a variety of factors, it is no small feat to gain their approval for an undertaking of this magnitude. (Similar bond requests in Otsego had, in the past, failed to gain approval.) So it took a great deal of coordination of efforts between CSM Group, Tower Pinkster Titus, and district personnel to help make it happen.

An appealing yet efficient design was essential, of course, and Tower Pinkster Titus was up to that challenge. And CSM Group's ability to add value to the design and construction process was critical. Maximizing the benefit of every dollar spent not only holds the ultimate cost down, but helps make the "return on investment" easier for voters to understand and accept.

Todd McDonald, Project Director for CSM Group, credited the attitude and efforts of those driving the initiative for presentations that were clear and cohesive, inspiring confidence, and eliminating unanswered questions. "The campaign cabinet and chairs were the keys to the successful bond election. Their enthusiasm and spirit was boundless and created an enjoyable atmosphere, a recipe for success," McDonald said.

Doug Phillips, Director of Business Development for CSM Group, works closely with many school districts on their bond campaigns, concurs with McDonald's assessment. "One of the biggest keys to the success of a bond campaign, beyond the development of a program the community will support, is the enthusiasm and effort of the campaign volunteers. The district did a great job of listening to the community when putting this package together. Bond BoosterTM, CSM's blueprint for an effective bond campaign, was a great tool for the committee to utilize, but without fantastic volunteers a successful vote can be difficult to achieve."

A midterm "exam"

Actual planning phases for the construction components of the project took place in late 2004 and early 2005. Groundbreaking for the West Campus construction and renovations to the district's existing elementary schools took place in May. Phase I, consisting of these projects and early site work for the new high school, is largely complete.

Phase II-including the new high school, and site improvements for the East Campus surrounding it-is underway, with groundbreaking scheduled in March. A third phase will follow, and will include infrastructure upgrades for some Phase I facilities, plus the renovation of the current high school into a middle school, and current middle school into Washington Street Elementary. Completion of the total project is targeted for December 2007.