Friday, April 9, 2010
By Zack Rosenfeld
Intern News Editor
and Eric Zheng
Staff Writer
Architects are drawing up the blueprints for the Measure BB Mira Costa Modernization Project between now and April 30, now that teachers, administrative staff and architects have given their input at their meeting.
The Science Department and the architects have discussed the size of the science labs in the proposed math and science building for many months.
The department voiced complaints that the new lab sizes will not be much larger than the current labs.
“The reason I am unhappy with the project, not considering the cost, is that my classroom is going to be fewer square feet then my current one is under this plan,” chemistry teacher Charlotte Shales-Clark said.
Larger classrooms cannot be made with the current budget. In addition, a larger building would take space away from the upper Peck Avenue parking lot, which many have already said is going to be too small with the new building.
“The blueprint has the building around 62,000 square feet and our initial plans called for something in the area of 58-60,000. So, we will have to find a way to cut some space,” Harley Ellis Devereaux architect John Dale said.
The math and science building, which will house all science classes in its two stories, will feature large labs, work rooms and prep rooms, and may have new technology. For example, labs will have fume hoods (which allow experiments to be contained) on top of lab tables so teachers can demonstrate for the class.
“I’m confident the project will be successful, especially when we have teachers, who are trying hard to teach the students, offer their input and architects who are able to implement their requests,” Principal Julie Ruisinger said.
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