NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
27 June 2003

MAYOR DEDICATES $6.8 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS, NEW CONSTRUCTION AT LINCOLN K-8 SCHOOL; NEW CLASSROOMS, CAFETERIA, LIBRARY AND MORE SET FOR SEPTEMBER OPENING

Harrisburg, PA—Harrisburg K-8 grade students attending the Lincoln School will have a new state-of-the-art facility to return to this Fall, as Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced today during dedication services for the newly rehabilitated school at 1601 State Street. The 65,495 sq. ft. restoration effort, which also included 16,780 sq. ft. of new construction, cost a total of $6.8 million and includes new classrooms, cafeteria, library, utility and life-safety systems, and much more.

Reed said the century old landmark school has been closed since work began in May 2002, and will reopen with this Fall’s school semester, allowing the more than 300 students who were temporarily relocated to the Ben Franklin Elementary School while work was underway to return to their neighborhood school. More than a hundred new students will also be added to the school’s roster this Fall as part of the Mayor’s new Early Childhood initiative, with most enrolled in the pre- Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes.

The Mayor said the work now completed is the latest chapter in the comprehensive overhaul of all city school facilities being undertaken. The $143.6 million facilities improvement project is being conducted in two phases and when finished, will result in new and expanded educational facilities throughout the city that can easily accommodate the more than 25% increase in total student population expected over the next decade.

“The Lincoln School is now a showpiece for modern elementary education,” said Reed, “thanks to the extensive upgrades and enhancements that have been performed. The students returning here will be educated in a state-of-the-art, high-tech facility that also serves as an important community gathering place and source for neighborhood growth and stability.”

The Mayor said that amongst the many improvements and upgrades made to the school are:

• Four new classrooms have been added to house students in the District’s new K3 and K4 early childhood programs
• New special subject rooms for art, music, science and computer sciences have been added
• Each classroom has been equipped with both a wireless, local area network computer system that allows for the use of laptops, as well as a traditional hard-wire network for desktop computers. Each classroom also has a new television, videocassette and digital videodisc systems.
• A new cafeteria, with new kitchen and dock facilities was constructed, and the existing library and gymnasium facilities have been significantly upgraded
• Space for newly-implemented Parenting and Family Centers have been added to the school’s lower level
• New electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems have been installed, and a new elevator and ADA-compliant ramps have been installed to provide greater accessibility for physically challenged or disabled students
• An automatic fire sprinkler system, the school’s first, has been added and a completely new fire alarm system, including new pull stations, extinguishers, smoke and heat detectors has been installed
• New Rescue Assistance Centers have been established on each floor of the school, allowing for students with disabilities or other problems to quickly access in the event of an emergency requiring student evacuation. The student only has to push a special button in the room to notify responding emergency crews of their location.
• Asbestos materials have been removed from the entire school
• All building interiors, including paint, vinyl and ceramic tiles and carpeting has been installed throughout the school
• New insulation and windows have been installed, dramatically improving energy conservation in the building and lowering overall energy costs
• The building’s exterior has been completely refurbished, with the existing brick and mortar façade cleaned and repointed, and the new construction’s exterior was matched to accent the existing exterior
• New sidewalks, paving, landscaping, playground equipment and bike racks have been installed

Reed said Wohlsen Construction served as the General Contractor for the project with Sponaugle and Sons providing the plumbing and electrical work. Shannon Smith did the HVAC work and the Triangle Company installed the new fire protection and suppression systems. The Bink Partnership served as project architects and construction management was provided Alexander Constructors.

Additional project team participants include Evans Engineering—civil engineering, Earth Engineering—geotechnical, AAS Environmental—abatement, Clapp and Holmes—structural, Barton Associates—mechanical and electrical, and Glenn B. Bush and Associates—food service.

The Mayor noted that this is the first time that the school has been completely renovated since its initial construction in 1904, and expansion in 1956.

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