pride in workmanship
There was a time not all that many years ago when outside contractors performed the bulk of the summer construction and landscaping projects at Collegiate.
Not anymore.
True, the folks on our physical plant staff aren’t building the new Academic Commons or putting the addition on the Hershey Center, but you get the feeling that with the proper equipment, they could figure a way to do the job…and by deadline, no less.
The past few weeks, though, they’ve had plenty of work to keep them busy above and beyond routine maintenance, and to a person, they’ve answered the call with typical alacrity, diligence, and expertise.
“I’ve never seen a group as dedicated as this that takes pride in what they do,” said Scott Carson, director of facilities management and construction. “They ‘get it.’”
“The school is blessed to have the high quality of people we have on campus.”
The first in-house endeavor was a makeover – now complete – of the Lower School admission office housed in the Watt Library and Technology Building.
Kenny Hazelwood (carpentry, framing, and dry wall), Leon Brown (dry wall, painting, and electrical), Paul Teebles (electrical), Douglas Johnson (carpentry), Sam Simpson and Thomas Jones (HVAC), Wilbur Athey and James Garrant (equipment moving and storage), and Robert Burnham (demolition and cleanup) did the honors.
Using the existing space, they created two offices where there had been one and enhanced the reception area so parents and prospective students can wait for their appointments in a much more serene atmosphere than the well-traveled front hallway.
“We used a lot of talented manpower,” Carson said.
“The chemistry among these guys is unique. They know how to get it done.
“They were able to get the project buttoned up within a two-and-a-half week schedule including the time the power was off for a day and a half after a storm.
“It looks fantastic.”
Project number two is the complete renovation of the Middle and Upper School nurse’s station thanks to the generosity of a donor and the skill and proficiency of the aforementioned A-Team plus Bryan Voltz, our resident plumber and jack-of-all-trades.
Since they began work just after graduation, the guys have gutted the front office, examination room, sick room, and restroom and are in the process of repainting, retiling, relighting, and refurnishing.
They expect to complete the undertaking by mid-August.
“Amy Rider (the nurse) had been working in some very cramped quarters,” Carson said. “It was time for a new, fresh look.”
The third project is a landscaping initiative spearheaded by grounds manager Allison Moyer and her team that includes Robyn Hartley, Matt Lee, and Arthur Johnson.
Their charge is to beautify the area around the temporary “communications cottage” located between the Development Office and Jacobs Gym, no small task considering the arid summer with temperatures that have reached triple digits on several occasions.
“We have (grounds) people who have a knowledge of horticulture and plant material, who have the experience in the field doing installation and irrigation work, and who raise the bar of professionalism,” Carson added.
“Recent hires we’ve made along with the additional training we’ve given some of our veterans have really upped the ante.”
Creating an aesthetically pleasing facility isn’t a one-and-done endeavor for Moyer and her staff.
Indeed, you can see them at all hours and in all weather conditions working assiduously to shore up everything from fields at the Robins Campus to the lush garden between Memorial Hall and the Reed-Gumenick Library, which, by the way, was last summer’s signature project.
“When the grounds crew does an installation, they tend to take more care with the plants, baby them a little bit, fluff up the root balls,” Carson said.
“There’s dedication, pride, and definitely a sense of ownership.”
