Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School, Greenville, SC

New Media Center

During the Summer of 2005, OLR's library and computer room were combined into a media center space, by removing the wall between the former library and computer lab and taking over some additional space in the building. The project has given students a better environment for reading, researching and learning essential technology skills. The computer lab portion of the room has upgraded facilities, including additional access to the Internet and improved networking with teachers’ classroom computers.

The Media Center project is the first of what we hope will be many physical improvements to OLR School and Church over the next few years.

The following is the text and pictures from the Web log that allowed students, parents and benefactors to keep up with the progress of the project over the summer.

Worth Waiting For

Completion:OLR School celebrated its 50th anniversary on Oct. 9, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Baker, a blessing and dedication of the now-complete media center, and a luncheon for about 500 parishoners, parents, alumni and guests. After several months of classes in the new facility, we have begun to take advantage of the new capabilities the expanded computer lab affords. Middle school students have been able to do Internet research for several projects and are working on an electronic portfolio of their work in English class. In addition, younger students have ejoyed the atmosphere of the story area in the library.

Mr. Milteer and Mrs. Calamia hold classes in the new media center.

Finishing Touches ... Really

Week 10, 11:The end of the project has been a little longer in coming than we expected, with a few details here and there keeping everything from being ready. But as the week before school ended, everything seems to be coming together. Since our last update, the door, carpeting and computer wiring have been installed and all the contents of the storage units returned. New computer tables and the last of the library shelving are expected any day now. Volunteers on clean-up day will return the library books to the shelves and help assemble chairs and hook up computers.

Mr. Bricco helps to assemble library shelving as the project nears completion. The installation of carpet gave the space a more completed look, even though several details remained.

At the front of the computer area, the new whiteboard will also act as a projection screen. New cabinets really dress up the teachers work area.

All We Need Is A Door

Week 9:Wiring, Windows, Carpet and Paint: The past few days have been a whirlwind of work from several subcontractors as the space edges closer to being finished. By Thursday, Aug. 4, there were only two main tasks remaining -- installing the carpet and floor tile and installing the new front door of the Media Center. The floors should be completed Friday, but the door may take a few days because of an unforseen problem getting the framework from a supplier. Meanwhile, a cabinetmaking crew installed the cabinets and counter in the new workroom. Painters applied the wall colors, which really helped make the space look close to finished. The electrical contractor installed all the ceiling lights and computer cabling and window installers put in the new glass in the computer lab wall and the reading area. A bit of trim work and that installation will be complete. Movers are coming Tuesday, Aug. 9, to return the contents of the library, computer lab and teacher's lounge.

The front door opening is still closed with plywood, but progress is evident everywhere else, especially with the new windows in the reading area.

After the computer cables were installed, a painting crew applied the blue and light tan wall colors.

Last Week Frenzy

Week 8:To finish the project, one final bit of demolition: The large window in the back wall of the media center had to be removed -- pried out of the wall, actually -- so that the new window can be installed. Elsewhere, masons closed in the opening where the back door of the library was removed and repaired some loose blocks under the main window. Drywall crews finished out the new walls and a crew installed the new ceiling grid, preparing for air vents and lights. Next week will be busy, with the main door and windows still to be installed as well as painting, the rest of the ceiling and finally, carpet.

The removal of the main window actually makes the room look LESS finished, but it's an essential part of completing the project. New heat pump units are on the ground behind the building, rather than on the roof.

The old back door opening has been closed with new concrete block. Istallation of a new ceiling grid prepares the way for lighting and air vents to be installed.

Drywall And Wiring: Preparing For Finishes

Weeks 6 and 7:There's progress in all corners of the media center, literally. The entrance off the front breezeway is cleared and ready for a new door. Drywall has been installed on the storage closet and workroom walls. The teacher's platform and student platforms in the computer area are completed. And the reading area is taking shape. But with all that is complete, there is still much to be done to get the media center ready for the Aug. 6 move-in. Exterior windows and doors must be installed. The drywall must be finished and the ceiling grid placed. Heating and air conditioning vents and lighting will go in the ceiling. After that, there's painting and finally, installing the carpet.

Now that there is drywall up, it's easier to get a sense of what the finished space will look like. In the computer area, the back two rows will be elevated for a better view.

The reading area will feature a curved riser for student seating. A new door will be installed at the main entrance, while the old back door of the library has been removed and the opening will be closed with new blocks.

The Home Stretch Is In Sight

Week 5:With all the structural issues solved and that work complete, the JonScot crew turned its attention to preparing the way for the finish work. The old windows have come out of the former library and construction has begun on the risers at the front and rear of the new computer lab area. Electrical work has begun. The next week should see the removal and closing in of the old library back door and perhaps the installation of the new main entrance door off the front breezeway.

With the roof supports complete, the ductwork was completed. Meanwhile, the old windows in the former library were removed, awaiting new windows.

While the media center is under construction, the contents of the library and the computer lab (and the teachers' lounge) are in storage units.

Roof Supports, Wall Framing And Scraping Up The Mess

Week 4:With help from the Pazdan-Smith design staff and Michelle Newsome, we finally made final selections on the carpet, paint and other finishes. Our original selections were somewhat over our budget. That may have been a good thing as what we ended up with will likely hold up better (aesthetically and physically). Back on the job site, HVAC work resumed and the first new construction of the project appeared in the framing for the network/storage closet and the teacher's workroom. Next week should see the new entrance door installed and some electrical work.

New ductwork and air handlers are in place. The final touches will be part of the ceiling installation. The framing for the walls of the teacher's workroom and the networking closet were the first new construction on the project.

How the steel structure of the (late 1950s) original building and the wooden roof supports of the (late 1960s) library addition are tied together to allow for the opening between them. Once the remains of the wall were removed, the floor slabs matched up almost perfectly.

Week 3:Progress slowed a bit while the contractor and the architect worked on how best to construct the supports for the wooden roof joists in the old library space. As it turned out, the wooden roof supports were tied into the steel supports for the original part of the building. It was a relatively simple, yet elegant solution that is illustrated in the photos. Best of all, we picked up a couple of precious inches of ceiling height. Meanwhile, some cleanup work continued as did progress on chiseling the last of the wall between the former library and computer room to reveal the smooth concrete underneath.

Week 2:Work continued on the HVAC installation, and scraping up the sticky mess left behind from pulling up the carpet. This week held another surprise, as the crew discovered that the steel structure of the original building and the wooden structure of the library (which was added in the late 1960s) didn't match up exactly as expected. This initially created a potential problem for where to place some main heating and air conditioning vents, but ended up with a solution to that problem and a big added benefit -- no column will be needed in the middle of the wall opening.

Construction Begins: Guys With Sledgehammers

Week 1: As teachers were holding their final faculty meeting of the year on Monday morning, June 6, the first work crew arrived to begin the renovation project. The crews accomplished a lot in a week, all but completing the demolition and beginning the installation of new heating and air conditioning units.

Meanwhile, details of technology improvements, selections of fixtures and furniture and final decisions on carpet, baseboard and wall colors are proceeding. Now, no project is without its surprises and the beginnings of this one were no exception. The week's heavy rains, combined with the removal of the ceilings in the library made a few roof leaks very apparent. We're hoping roofers will be on the scene next week to make the needed repairs.

Here is a brief look at the week's work.

Monday 6/6:Demoliton went quickly on the walls of the teacher's work room, St. Vincent Depaul office and hallway.

Wednesday 6/8: The air conditioning and heating crew was already beginning to install the new air-handling units.

Thursday, 6/9, the guys from JonScot began removing most of the block wall between the library and computer room space.

Friday afternoon, 6/10: The wall was, for the most part, no more and the size of the combined media center space is becoming apparent.
A look ahead: Next week, the last vestiges of the wall will be removed and framing will begin on the new teacher's work room and the computer/library storage closet.

Ready For Construction

June 1, 2005: As school ended for the year, the media center spaces were empty and awaiting the arrival of construction crews on June 6 (D-Day, perhaps fitting symbolism).

The St. Vincent DePaul Society office and food bank were relocated to their new quarters next to the sacristy in the church building.

Renovation Project Final Preparations

May 16, 2005: Preparations for this summer's media center renovation project went into the final phase during the week of May 9, as volunteers packed up the library and computer lab and took the contents to storage.

In addition, the teacher's work room was moved to temporary quarters in the teacher's lounge.

OLR's St. Vincent de Paul Society has moved to its new quarters next to the sacristy.

Construction, which is to be done by JonScot General Contractors of Greenville, is scheduled to begin by June 6 and completed sometime around Aug. 1.

Thanks to: Mrs. Alabau, Mrs. Bannio, Mr. Bricco, Mrs. Conty, Mrs. Gibson, Mr. Flaspoehler, Mrs. Palash, Mrs. Possidente, Mr. Schichtel and others who contributed so much time and hard work.

The library was constructed in the late-1960s and was in need of renovation and expansion. Our computer lab, which had been upgraded several times in the past few years, had outgrown its current space and needed upgrades to keep up with the continuing need to integrate technology into all aspects of OLR's curriculum.

A successful fund-raising effort, "Mission for Success 2004-05," generated the needed funds for construction thanks to generous contributions from many school families, parishioners and other benefactors. We are deeply grateful for the wonderful support of ther project.

Media Center Project Timeline

2003-2004 School Year
Preliminary plans and fund-raising for project begun.

Summer/Fall 2004
Additional planning completed, approval for construction sought from Diocese of Charleston.

Nov. 29, 2004
Bishop grants permission to begin the Project and Letter from Diocesan Finance Office is obtained.

Dec. 2004
80% of total funds for the project raised (ahead of Jan. 31, 2005 deadline.)

Jan.-Feb. 2005
Design finalized, multiple bids obtained from contractors.

Feb. 2005 thru April 2005
Fund-raising continues
Begin construction of new St. Vincent de Paul Offices.

March 2005
100% of construction funds raised

April 2005
JonScot General Contractors of Greenville chosen, contract finalized
Building permits obtained from Greenville County.

May 2005
Bishop approves contract

June 1, 2005
School closes for the summer.

June 6, 2005 – August 19, 2005
Construction.

Aug. 15, 2005- August 19, 2005
Return shelves and books, and set up computer equipment.

August 22, 2005
2005-2006 school year begins.

Oct. 9, 2005
Media Center Dedication and blessing by Bishop Baker and Father Dac.