Talk of a schoolwide renovation has long been circulating for years, to the point where the rumors were about as substantial as conspiracy theories. Numerous delays, planning, and the circus that was COVID 19 have certainly not helped matters. However, most students have noticed the temporary portables that are being set up towards the back of campus near the court and bus loop, and now there’s physical evidence of the construction that’s coming to OCSA. As of this school year, it’s officially happening. Here’s what we know.
Titled “RPF – Design Architectural, Engineering, and Design Services for the Osceola County School for the Arts Comprehensive Renovation Project” under Construct Connect (a preconstruction technology partner), some details about the new campus have been revealed.
There will be a new student building to replace the existing concrete portables, which will accommodate a total of 1250 student stations for grades 6-12. To accommodate students, the installation of temporary portable classrooms located west of the school site, adjacent to the fields or within the fields will be required. The removal of existing concrete portables will commence upon installation of the temporary classrooms. Renovation will take place in phases to “minimize disruption of operations during normal school hours”. Due to the phased schedule, the new student building will temporarily accommodate the current administration giving way to the comprehensive renovation of the existing administration suite.
Construction will include classrooms, multipurpose spaces for performing arts, an additional or extended cafeteria, a Campus courtyard, an additional Administration Suite, and additional parking adjacent to the new structure. Alongside this project includes a separate entrance for the bus loop, so it will no longer share the car line. The design will maintain an entrance at the signal controlling traffic flow North/South on North Orange Blossom Trail and East/West Centerview Blvd., to the school entrance road. Student drop-off/pickup, student parking, and staff/visitors parking lot(s) will continue to have access to the current parking lot. However, the school bus ingress/egress will relocate to the rear access road at the Northeast site entrance. This connects the new bus loop to Healthy Way Road, (which is not a part of the comprehensive renovation) and buses will loop on-site near the existing student drop-off and exit from the same entry point. The estimated value of the construction budget comes out to be around $43, 828, 911.
In an interview with our Principal, Mr. Neal, he expounded on the details, and what will be happening next year. Though it is still a rough timeline, as weather and other possible delays still need to be taken into account, construction and renovation should start and finish within next school year.
As such, there are 3 known phases. The beginning of the 2024-2025 school calendar will be Phase 1, the initial construction of an entirely new 3 story building located towards the back of campus, where all portables 1 through 12 are currently, including the 6th grade wing. These classes will be directly impacted and displaced next school year into the pop-up portables. Afterwards, those efforts will turn to renovation in Phase 2 for the OPAC theater. Finally, towards the end of the year, Phase 3 focus on renovation for the office buildings 1 and 3, the administration wing.
Mr. Neal explained that while he isn’t sure what performances, recitals, or graduation will look like, he mentioned teachers are still brainstorming ways to continue these shows, whether it be outside or possibly in another school’s auditorium. The principal also hopes that the graduating class next year will be able to come back for a reunion of some sort with the new OCSA building, though the feasibility of this remains unclear.
Junior drama major Jayson Nieves says, “Honestly, I’m already moving to Creative writing for my senior year, but I still love seeing and performing in shows. The construction really limits things to smaller scale shows that may be good but can’t be as extravagant as the last few. I’m also upset for most of my friends, who are avid performers and rely on the show to get their names out there. It may be beautiful when finished, but it’s going to make senior year for Drama quite the challenge.”
Ms. Collier, who will be moving rooms next school year, said the project was, “…an incredible amount of work. Teachers have to pack in a specific way according to the moving company, although someone else will be moving the materials, thank goodness for that. I’m not really excited for all the work and effort that teachers have to take care of, but it’s past time for a new building.”
Construction will mean having to adapt to an entire set of new challenges that no one may have a clear answer to- not to mention dealing with the chaos of navigating a changing school ground. Right now, nothing is set in stone, but when all is said and done, OCSA will hopefully have a campus that will fulfill every student’s needs.
