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Since September, Debbie Mitchell’s Discovery Time Preschool students have pressed their noses to classroom windows watching the Luverne Middle-High School construction unfold.
They’ve lost interest in the past two months, however, when outdoor activity stalled.
Cold temperatures slowed progress for Gil Haugan Construction workers in their efforts to pour concrete footings and lay groundwork for the central commons and performing arts center between buildings.
Meanwhile, workers turned their attention to projects inside, and another transition is coming up for the $30 million project, which means work will soon resume outside the preschool window.
“Steel should start going up at the end of this week or next week, so things will look different very soon,” said Superintendent Craig Oftedahl.
A large crane between the elementary and middle-high school buildings will be used to lift the steel beams into place for the building.
“Once the steel is in place, the (concrete) panels will go up next,” Oftedahl said. “The preschool students should have quite a show for several days.”
Progress outside will depend on weather and finishing of the footings, and inside workers are finishing the centrally located nurse’s office.
The new weight room (former band and choir rooms) will be a transition area for the district office and some teaching spaces while the first floor west wing is renovated, Oftedahl said.
Renovations were completed last fall on several classrooms on the second floor of the west wing. These new classrooms are currently in use.
Moving of the district office and affected classroom is expected between Jan. 20-31.
Workers have also enclosed the six-classroom two-story addition on the school’s north wing.
Next steps will be removing the outside walls to incorporate the new addition into the existing building.