Demolition of 100-year-old Reed Academy starts to make way for new, bond-funded school
For the new Reed Academy of Fine and Performing Arts to be built, the old middle school must be torn down. That demolition work has started.
Crews from Ahrens Contracting, a demolition and excavation company out of St. Louis, started dismantling the 100-year-old structure at Atlantic Street and Lyon Avenue Tuesday.
Using heavy equipment, crews smashed and pulled down the walls of the old cafeteria and kitchen on the northeast side of the school. The work was visible from Campbell Avenue.
The entire campus has been walled off with construction fencing to keep the public from entering the property as the work progresses. Demolition is expected to take 60 days.
The aging structure is being dismantled to make way for a new state-of-the-art building paid for by the $220 million bond issue overwhelmingly approved by voters in April.
At $59.4 million, Reed is currently the most expensive project on the list. However, the final cost for the new Pipkin Middle School may fluctuate once the district determines where it will be constructed.
The school opened in fall 1923 as Reed Junior High serving grades 7-8 and then Reed Middle School once the sixth grade was added. Later, it was renamed Reed Academy to reflect the academically accelerated courses offered as part of its "choice" program.
The school was expanded with additions over the years including a gym and music room in 1955.
Reed students and teachers have been temporarily relocated to the old Jarrett building on South Jefferson Avenue and the school's offerings have evolved as a "choice" program for the fine and performing arts.
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The school has long been a draw for students interested choir, band, orchestra, and visual arts. The school will add or expand other programs including world dance, media and theater.
In August, the school board received a preview of the proposed design for Reed, which was based in part on input from teachers and staff. The presentation was from Sapp Design Architects.
Plans call for the 128,900-square-foot building to serve 725 students in grades 6-8. There will be 21 core classrooms, six science combo labs and two collaboration spaces.
The layout includes 23,620 square feet for the performing arts including two rooms each for choir and world dance and one each for band and orchestra. There is also a multi-purpose auditorium with a stage, sound booth, storage and seating for 450 people.
The board recently awarded a $697,700 contract for the demolition of Reed to Ahrens Contracting. District officials said the bid was competitive and roughly half of the amount budgeted.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Crews demolish Reed Academy to make way for arts-focused middle school
