SES Renovation Project Begins With Classrooms

By Pagie Wilson C’14, Messenger Intern

Sewanee Elementary School, built in 1924, is undergoing a $600,000 renovation. Most of the work is in the primary building, the original building containing the main offices, speech, special education and prekindergarten to second-grade classrooms.

“There are four issues being addressed in this renovation: drainage, new roofs, the installation of thermopane windows, which are more energy efficient, and new carpet,” principal Mike Maxon said in a recent interview. 

The first step is the installation of the windows and carpet in the primary building, he said, which began mid-January. The new windows are double- paned and smaller than the previous windows. With this loss of window space, the walls will be better insulated, and the air-conditioning units will be moved from the windows to the walls. 

“Our main difficulty is figuring out the logistics,” Maxon said, “such as where to move classrooms when the windows and carpets are being put in.”

Maxon, who said his main priority during construction time is to minimize loss of instruction time, has converted two rooms adjacent to the gym to function as classrooms during the construction. To have enough space, only two classrooms can be worked on at one time. Once all of the classrooms on the main level are fixed, the two rooms near the gym will undergo the same renovation. \

The next major issue, Maxon said, is drainage: through the ceiling, in the underground pipes and the downspouts. To fix leaking, the red asphalt roofs will be replaced on the primary building and the gym. 

The underground drainage pipes running from the building will also be fixed. The downspouts will be reconfigured to run into one drainpipe underground that flows toward and under the playground. When the water gets to the playground, the pipe will have holes to disperse it under the playground. Overflow water will be directed to the ravine behind the playground.

In addition to the windows, carpets and drainage, the three outside brick staircases will be replaced and the ice damage in the parking lot will be repaired with new paving.

During this project, Maxon said, teachers and staff have been parking their vehicles on University Avenue. 

“Everyone knows the situation we have here, and they have been very understanding and cooperative,” Maxon said. 

The front windows of the school will not be replaced because the school system wants to retain the aesthetics of the school. 

There is a tentative schedule for the project, which anticipates a four-month construction time, although this may vary due to the weather conditions.

The teachers, Maxon said, “ are very supportive, and are working the hardest. They work here over weekends to see that the students don’t miss a beat, and they are making the best with what they have.”