School board accepts $20.6 M bid for Lake Area project, seeks bids for athletics complex
The Watertown School District accepted a $20.6 million bid Monday from Gray Construction for the Lake Area Technical College archway complex.
The project consists of a 50,000-square-foot building that will include two classroom buildings and a skywalk to connect them. The new building will accommodate an additional 250 students. An advanced manufacturing laboratory space is also part of the project.
Despite the multi-million-dollar complex, there will not be an increase in tuition, which will remain the same next year.
An $8 million donation from First Premier Bank and Premier Bankcard and $7.5 million in one-time state funds will pay for the work, which is expected do be done in fall 2023.
Phase one of athletics complex ready to be bid
School board members also approved seeking bids for phase one of the Watertown High School Athletic Complex.
It includes shifting Allen Mitchell Field, where the track is, to the north, leaving room for the potential second phase of the project. Phase two could include grandstands, concessions, a fieldhouse with wrestling mats, a plaza and two practice fields to the west of the track.
Part of phase one also consists of installing artificial turf instead of grass. School board member Kari Lohr asked for CO-OP Architecture to present bids reflecting the price differences between artificial turf and sod.
Jason Kann from CO-OP Architecture said that presenting the cost differences is possible, but cautioned that by installing natural grass instead of artificial turf, there would be greater expenses in the future.
More: Plans call for major improvements to Allen Mitchell Field, Watertown Stadium
“It is extra work if you decide to do a grass field. The drainage around the field would be different. There would be a sprinkler system installed,” Kann said.
The school district has allocated $4 million for the project, which will ensure that the track is rebuilt. As plans stand now, it's estimated that phases one and two would jointly cost $7.5 million to $8 million.
To have the new track ready for next season, phase one will need to be completed by December.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: LATC archway bids for $20.6 million, bids requested for track field
