Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria looks a little different
in a big way this year. With the structural changes to Ireton and the
administrative offices being moved, many Ireton students want to know more
about what changes are coming in the renovation process.
The demolition of the Oblate House that began in August 2017 will
continue through October. This initial construction paves the way for work to
begin on Ireton’s new academic wing, which has a tentative completion date of
fall 2019.
The timeline for Ireton’s renovation spans a little over two
years, which means that the classes of 2020 and 2021 will be able to see the finished
product during their time at Ireton. However, many underclassmen are not yet
aware of exactly what this construction is for, including freshman Bridget
Innis, who says that “the renovation is what many people have been talking
about recently (but) I don’t really know what is going to be built.”
The construction process began in late June 2016 with the
construction company Coakley Williams starting renovations on the main offices
and adding two administrative offices.
Ireton obtained a permit to begin the demolition of the Oblate
House by shutting off the gas lines, water lines and electricity that goes to
the Oblate House to ensure a safe work environment for the demolition.
The main administrative offices will likely be ready for use in
early October, which means that the administrators will be back in their
regular offices and the wrestling room will be ready for use.
The demolition of the Oblate House will be the most noticeable
effect of the construction, but Ireton also will install new heating and
cooling lines on the roof of the classrooms in the science wing. “(Coakley
Williams) will recycle 90 percent of what they take down,” said Peter Davey,
director of operations at Ireton.
Ireton obtained a development special use permit (SUP) to begin
construction on the new academic wing. In a Sept. 7 hearing with the Planning
and Zoning Commission, it was recommended that the construction go forward and
that enrollment of Ireton could go up to 950 students. The request for the SUP
through the Alexandria City Council was approved Sept. 16.
Once the permit is obtained by Ireton, architects will work on
the full design and build set, which lays out the specifics for the new
building that construction companies utilize when making their bids on the
project.
After the design and build set has been finalized and Ireton
selects a construction company, work can tentatively begin in mid-March or
early April 2018. It will take 15 to 17 months to complete.
This project will modernize the Ireton’s facilities with new STEM
labs, a robotics lab, a new library and a new cafeteria. The future generations
at Ireton will be able to utilize these state-of-the-art facilities, which make
the construction bittersweet for many upperclassmen.
Senior Anna Johnson will be gone from the school by the time it
is completed, but hopes her brother, who is a freshman, will be able to enjoy
the improvements.
After this phase of renovations is completed, Ireton will move to
its second phase, including a new front entrance, new classrooms and a new
reception area. With all of the new changes at Ireton, students have many
things to look forward to in the coming years.