First major portion of high school renovation expected to open Monday

(Above left) The newly renovated cafeteria and commons area at Clear Lake High School is expected to open for use on Monday, Nov. 7.  The renovation project included bridging the former courtyard area between the previous cafeteria and main entrance.  The white column near the center of the new cafeteria is concealing the standpipes which used to be in the outdoor courtyard.  The pipes remain operational.-Reporter photo.

(Above right) The new CLHS cafeteria will offer expanded choices, with the addition of a cappucino machine, panini sandwich maker and more.-Reporter photo.

The first piece of the $2.5 million renovation project in progress at Clear Lake High School is expected to open for student and public use Monday, Nov. 7.

School cooks moved into an expanded kitchen at the high school two weeks ago, but Monday the new cafeteria and commons area will open.  The move will take dining out of the gymnasium and give students a state-of-the-art space which will offer more choices, both in terms of dining and seating options.

The sleek new space bears little resemblance to the old cafeteria, but one landmark all CLHS alum can remember is the concrete block center fixture in the room.  The painted white centerpiece is actually the housing for the former standpipes which were located in the courtyard between the cafeteria and former main entrance to the school.  The pipes remain operational, but they are now disguised by the walls.

The new cafeteria will seat about 220 students, according to Principal Chris Murphy, which will allow three dining shifts to be reduced to two.  The dining room features a variety of booths, bar-height tables, pedestal tables and more traditional round tables to seat eight.

Serving lines are located through large doorways adjacent to the seating area.  The cafeteria will offer four to five different food choices per day, including paninis and other new options. There is also a cappuccino machine and large display cases of beverage choices.

The 21,553-square foot kitchen features $400,000 in new equipment including a walk-in cooler, food warmers and dishwasher.

The renovation project also included creating more distinct and accessible entries for an elevator which travels between the gymnasium and commons.  While the elevator has always been in place, it previously opened into the kitchen, explained Murphy.  Now a new foyer and hallway lead into the commons area.

Dean Snyder Construction will continue work on the front entrance to the school and new office space through the end of the year.  Much of the exterior work has been complet-

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ed.  New stairs, equipped with an ice and snow melt system, have been poured and the roof, creating a more pronounced entrance, is complete. Some electrical work remains to be done.

The new office, which will be situated just inside the new entry, is currently under construction.  Once complete it will house the secretaries’ desks, as well as offices for the school nurse, assistant principal and principal.  School counselors and other support staff will move into the former office space, located just across the hallway from the new main office.

Murphy noted that the entire interior of the school building was repainted to update and coordinate with the new spaces.

“We asked the kids what they wanted to see in this construction project and one of the things they wanted was the consistent use of school colors throughout the building,” said Murphy.  “Down in the gym you see all the banners and you get the feeling of school pride.  We wanted to carry those colors and feelings up here to the rest of the school building.”

Students helped to choose some of the new furnishings in the library, which was also carpeted.  The music rooms will soon be painted with the same gray, black and gold used throughout the building.

The projected end date for the construction project is Dec. 31, 2016.

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