Celebration held for latest CANCO K-12 CM project
1 week, 3 days ago
College Community School District held a ribbon-cutting and open house for its Carl A. Nelson & Company-led 9th-grade and alternative facility renovation.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Members of the team from Carl A. Nelson & Company (CANCO) that helped bring College Community School District's latest major building project to completion joined in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Sept. 25, 2024, at the new 9th-Grade and Prairie Delta facility, located adjacent to Prairie High School on the district's unified, multi-building campus.
Led by CANCO as a construction management project, the facility opened in time for the start of school in August. After almost three years of planning and pre-construction, work on the year-long renovation and addition project at the former Prairie Creek Intermediate School building began in the summer of 2023, just months prior to the new Prairie Creek school — also constructed with leadership from Carl A. Nelson & Company — opening to students. The project involved the total interior renovation of the existing building, and additions including an enclosed connector to the high school building dubbed The Link, for a complete project adding up to 163,163 SF.
"This moment marks a significant milestone for the school district," Nick Liston, CANCO's project manager, said as part of remarks delivered during the ceremony. "The renovation of this facility was not just about updating a building, it was about creating a space where the district's students can thrive."
Liston went on to thank the school board, administration and community for placing their trust in the Carl A. Nelson & Company team to complete such an important project for the district, which brings ninth-graders back in proximity to the high school and gives improved spaces for students in the alternative program, Delta. Liston also cited the role of the design team; CANCO construction team members, Project Superintendent Bill Curler and Project Engineer Doug Mertens; and the 18 prime contractors, their subcontractors and suppliers that completed the construction.
"Your expertise and efforts have truly made a difference," Liston said. "This would not have happened without all of you. We faced challenges along the way, as all projects do, but your collective determination and problem-solving spirit ensured that we stayed on-track and delivered a facility that exceeds expectations."
In his remarks at the ceremony, School Board President Randy Bauer credited CANCO for keeping the project on-time and on-budget.
"We're just greatly appreciative of your partnership," Bauer said.
Combined, the new Prairie Creek Intermediate School and renovated 9th-Grade and Prairie Delta facility represent a total investment by the College Community School District that exceeds $70 million in construction cost. Currently, CANCO is engaged in pre-construction planning for improvements to the high school's John Wall Stadium. Working again as construction manager, construction of the project will begin following the current high school football season.
Students from the new 9th-grade and Prairie Delta facility help College Community School District administrators and board members, as well as project team members, cut a ribbon on their new space during a Sept. 25, 2024, ceremony. (CANCO)
A newly remodeled science room inside the 9th-Grade and Prairie Delta facility of the College Community School District in Cedar Rapids. (CANCO)
The lunch and commons room of the Delta Prairie section of the new College Community School District facility. (CANCO)
One of two remodeled gymnasiums in the 9th-grade and Prairie Delta facility. This gym includes turf and batting cages for indoor baseball and softball practices, in addition to capacity for court sports. (CANCO)
A former performing arts space in the old Prairie Creek Intermediate School is now the College Community School District's training center, located in the 9th-Grade and Prairie Delta facility. (CANCO)
Members of the team from Carl A. Nelson & Company who were involved in gaining the College Community School District as a client, and planning and building the 9th-Grade and Prairie Delta facility are, from left, Vice President of Operations (Burlington), Dan Culp; Project Engineer Doug Mertens; Project Superintendent Bill Curler; Project Manager Nick Liston; and President Chris Smith. (CANCO)