By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
An architectural firm has been selected to design a new school building – and help the board pass a bond issue to pay for it.
Bowling Green Board of Education voted Monday evening to hire ThenDesign Architecture, of Willoughby, to design a new building – possibly a high school – then help convince the voters to support it this November.
“We have a very vested interest in updating our facilities,” Board President Ryan Myers said.
The board has applied for state funding through the Expedited Local Partnership Program, he said.
Earlier this month, the board heard presentations and interviewed two prospective architectural firms on the services they could provide to create a district facilities master plan. Eighteen architectural firms had expressed interest in the project, with five submitting quotes. The field was narrowed to two firms:
- Garmann Miller, of Minster, which designed the new campus at Otsego.
- ThenDesign Architecture, of Willoughby, which is currently working on new school facilities in Fremont.
Both firms presented “very detailed and well thought out information,” on how they can help the district move forward, Myers said.
The two firms gave presentations to the board on their backgrounds, ability to build a master plan for the district, visioning for the schools using available land, ability to communicate the needs and wants of the district, and roles of their representatives who work with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
“They are very much into creative learning environments that meet the needs of today’s students,” Hovest said after the first meeting.
On Monday evening, Hovest expressed her preference for Garmann Miller, citing the firm having an engineer and community engagement person on staff. Garmann Miller worked on the new Otsego school and is familiar with the area, she said.
“I think they will offer us the extra things we need at this point to pass a bond issue,” Hovest said. “Seeing how we’ve been through this before. We can’t afford to lose this again.”
But Hovest’s motion to hire Garmann Miller failed due to a lack of a second.
Board member Norm Geer said he checked with ThenDesign about the lack of an engineer on staff. He was informed that ThenDesign partners with engineering firms to meet the needs of the community.
“I was satisfied with that answer,” Geer said.
“It’s a very hard decision because they are so close,” he said of the two firms.
Geer said the district needs a building that will last 100 years, and a building that reflects the personality of the community – not a “cookie cutter” or “one size fits all” school.
Helping to sway Geer in favor of ThenDesign was the fact that an architect with the firm is currently working to help revise requirements of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
“Both companies made excellent presentations,” with different philosophies, said board member Jill Carr. An important part of the contract will be the focus on passing a bond issue, she said.
“I think it’s so important for the community to wrap their heads around” the dire need for new facilities, Carr said.
Myers said the competition between two worthy firms is healthy.
“This is a good problem to have,” he said. Both companies seemed ready to echo the board’s enthusiasm, being “loud, proud and excited about the project.”
Superintendent Francis Scruci said he was proud of the board for having healthy discourse about the two firms.
“You cannot go wrong with either of these companies,” Scruci said, adding that he considers them to be the top two school architectural firms in the state.
Hovest said despite her preference for the other firm, she was willing to vote with Carr, Geer and Myers, in favor of ThenDesign. Board member Ginny Stewart was not at the meeting.
“I’m going to support this in moving the district forward,” Hovest said.
After the meeting, Myers said the district has three buildings that are in worse condition than the others – the high school, Conneaut and Kenwood elementaries.
The board’s decision Monday was supported by a group of Bowling Green parents, young professionals, and local business owners who are urging voters and community leaders to put forward and support a November ballot initiative to build a new high school.
Though the community group has focused on the need for a new high school, member Jeff Dennis said Monday evening that group will support the board’s plans.
“We’re going to be involved in some fashion,” Dennis said. “We want to let them know we’ve got their back.”
