Terraset Elementary School took a big step in its major overhaul when a steel bridge was put into place this week. The bridge centrally connects the school entrance and the parking lot.
The bridge will replace the two aging walkways that formerly connected the parking lot to the school, which is located partially underground. One of the walkways was destroyed last year. One remains in place for the transition.
The school, which opened in 1977 as a unique, energy-saving underground concept, is about a year in to a renovation that is expected to take up to another year. Crews are nearly done with new classrooms on one side of the building. Later this school year, lower grades will move into the new wing while workers get busy with an addition on the other side of the school. Upper grades will be relocated to temporary classroom buildings, which will remain until the project is complete during the 2015-16 school year.
The renovation will change the school from an open concept to having more traditional classrooms, as well as addding space to nearly double the school’s capacity, with room for about 900 students.