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Capital Project Hard Hat Updates

OU BOCES Capital Project Hardhat Updates
Capital Project Progress Updates for April 2025

 

Please check back often for updates.

Capital Improvement Program Update
april 2025

Phase 3
Arden Hill Campus | North Wing

Contractors are busy taping and painting at the Arden Hill Campus North Wing, and tiling will be next. Ceilings and floors are also set for installation in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, classrooms have been prepped for smart boards, which were delivered recently and will be installed when flooring is complete. 

Classroom doors have arrived and are being painted, and window installation is beginning this month. 

The elevator and new, pyramid shaped skylight are on track for installation by summer.

Roof replacement is complete, and rooftop HVAC units are in place.

HVAC System on Roof

The new North Wing roof with HVAC installed.

The North Wing will be ready to host students for the Summer 2025 Extended School Year, which is usually held at the Emanuel Axelrod Special Education Center on OUB’s Amy Bull Crist Campus on Gibson Road, where construction will begin this summer. Summer program students will also attend summer programming at the CTE building and Presidential Park Elementary School in Middletown.

Phase 6
Amy Bull Crist Campus | Axelrod Building

Construction and renovations -  includes safety enhancements and the creation of enhanced space for special education programs - began over the April Spring Break. Work is expected to continue through 2027. 

First on the schedule is the demolition of the current entrance to make way for construction of a new single-point-of-entry security  vestibule. This initial construction will not affect space currently used by students or staff and it won’t disrupt our educational program. However, we will be relocating the arrival and dismissal points for the rest of the school year to ensure everyone’s safety during construction. 
 

Axelrod Lobby

Axelrod interior lobby (architect’s rendering)


Extra safety measures will be put in place as construction continues through the summer and into the 2025-2026 school year. For example, construction areas will be separate from student spaces, contractors will use their own entrance, and we’re adding security staff to monitor the project space. Our contractors have extensive experience working in schools, and we’re confident in their ability to keep things running smoothly.

This summer, the Extended School Year Program usually held at Axelrod will be temporarily  relocated to our Arden Hill Campus, the Career and Technical Education Center on Gibson Road, and Presidential Park Elementary School in Middletown.

Phase 7
Arden Hill Campus | Gymnasium

The site, located behind Arden Hill, has been cleared and prepped for the next phase of construction. A safety fence now surrounds the site.

Bids for the gymnasium were awarded in early April and work will begin this summer. Construction is estimated to take about a year.

Gym Site

Gymnasium site

 

About BOCES & the Capital Project

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) operates in partnership with 17 local school districts to provide specialized educational opportunities and services.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is vital to both our students and the local workforce. Through CTE, students receive education and training in job skills for numerous trades, including automotive, health careers and aviation. The Division of Special Education provides specialized instruction for children with needs that cannot be supported in their home school districts. In addition, Adult Education programs are an indispensable source of education and training for adult learners. Each year, the BOCES serves more than 2,000 CTE students, 1,000 special needs students and in excess of 4,500 adult education students.

The BOCES also provides vital and cost-effective support services to area school districts. For example, more than 6,500 area teachers received professional development through the BOCES Instructional  Support Division. The Technology Division assists districts by providing internet services and last year facilitated  the purchase of more than 12,000 devices now in use in schools throughout the region.

The initial scope of the capital project was determined through the Building Condition Survey (BCS) which is mandated by the State of New York for all school districts every five years. The BCS identified significant areas of need across the campuses. The Gibson Road Campus, with buildings constructed in 1971, has the greatest need. The most recent capital project on this campus was completed in 1988, 34 years ago. The Arden Hill Campus (the former Arden Hill Hospital) requires significant work to be fully renovated into educational space.

By going forward with this comprehensive project, including all of the critical renovations and improvements, this initiative seeks to take advantage of an economy of scale. This will eliminate the need for the BOCES to bring smaller scaled projects to our community every few years. The construction and renovation would start in 2024.

BOCeS BY THE NUMBERS

Capital Project Infographic

Project details

Gibson Road campus:

The Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) would be updated at a cost of $67M. Renovations would include:

  • Replacement of original roof (1971)
  • Replacement of original single-pane windows (1971)
  • Replacement/upgrade of electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
  • Advancements in energy efficiency
  • Construction of security vestibule to establish single point of entry
  • Replacement/upgrade of failing sanitary and well systems
  • Masonry cleaning/repointing/repairs in select locations
  • Replace selected interior doors
  • Replace selected interior wire-glass
  • Replace selected folding partitions
  • HVAC/Exhaust in selected shop classrooms
  • HVAC replacement in classrooms to a central chilled water system
  • Replace HVAC pneumatic controls with DDC
  • Electrical distribution repairs including panelboards, switchboards and transformers
  • Replacement of lighting with LED fixtures in selected areas
  • Install a new generator
  • Asphalt pavement repairs/repaving
  • General classroom renovations
  • Shop classroom renovations
  • Corridor & stair renovations
  • Multi-user toilet room renovations
  • Renovation of greenhouses
  • New classroom addition including sitework
  • New loading dock addition including sitework

The Emanuel Axelrod Education Center would be updated at a cost of $57M. Renovations would include:

  • Replacement of original roofs (1971, 1988)
  • Replacement of original single-pane windows (1971, 1989)
  • Replacement/upgrade of electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
  • Advancements in energy efficiency
  • Construction of security vestibule to establish single point of entry
  • Creation of support space for students
  • Conversion of administrative space to student classrooms
  • Masonry cleaning/repointing/repairs in select locations
  • Repairs at selected retaining walls
  • Repairs to selected exterior walkways, stairs, and play areas
  • Replace selected interior doors
  • Replace selected interior wire-glass
  • Therapy pool edge refurbishment
  • HVAC replacement in 1988 addition
  • Add air-conditioning in lobby and gymnasium
  • Replace domestic hot water heater
  • Replace HVAC pneumatic controls with DDC
  • Electrical distribution repairs including panelboards, switchboards and transformers
  • Replacement of lighting with LED fixtures in selected areas
  • Provide fire alarm in required locations
  • Asphalt pavement repairs / repaving
  • General classroom renovations
  • Corridor & stair renovations
  • Multi-user toilet room renovations
  • Auditorium renovation
  • Cafeteria/stage renovation
  • Library renovation
  • Courtyard Renovations

Arden Hill campus:

The Arden Hill Campus would be updated at a cost of $35M. Renovations would include:

  • Replacement of the roof on the main building
  • Replacement of exterior windows
  • Renovation of third floor to add ten classrooms
  • Renovation of north wing to add seventeen classrooms
  • Construction of new gymnasium (no gymnasium currently exists)
  • Masonry cleaning/repointing/repairs in select locations
  • Repairs to loading dock
  • Replacement of selected overhead doors
  • Minor interior finish repairs
  • Repairs to electrical distribution including panelboards
  • Asphalt pavement repairs/repaving
  • Renovation of office building to allow for conversion to classrooms on Gibson Road
    • Full gut renovation of interior to administrative spaces
    • Small addition for ADA wheelchair lift
    • Roof replacement
    • Window replacement
    • Repairs to exterior stairs
    • Partial replacement of exterior finishes
    • Sitework including utilities, parking and walkways

Amount

With a total project cost of $158,825,054 the average cost per month to a homeowner with a property assessed at $300,000 (equalized) is $4.58. This project is eligible for State Aid, which will be reimbursed to the local school districts.

PowerPoint

Capital Project PowerPoint cover

A PowerPoint summarizing the projects can be viewed HERE.

 

2022 Capital Project

A view of the damaged roof of the main building on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of the damaged roof of the main building on the Arden Hill campus.

A damaged roof area on the Arden Hill campus.

A damaged roof area on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of the  currently vacant North Wing on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of the  currently vacant North Wing on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of the  currently unused North Wing on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of the currently vacant North Wing on the Arden Hill campus.

A damaged window on the Arden Hill campus.

A damaged window on the Arden Hill campus.

A damaged window on the Arden Hill campus.

A damaged window on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of the damaged roof of the Axelrod building on the Gibson Road campus.

A view of the damaged 50-plus year old roof of the Axelrod building on the Gibson Road campus.

A view of damaged areas on the roof of the Axelrod building on the Gibson Road campus.

A view of damaged areas on the roof of the Axelrod building on the Gibson Road campus.

A view of proposed renovations to the inside of main building on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of proposed renovations to the inside of main building on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of proposed renovations to the inside of the main building on the Arden Hill campus.

A view of proposed renovations to the inside of the main building on the Arden Hill campus.

Proposed video production area on Gibson Road campus

Proposed video production area on Gibson Road campus

The current CTE digital video area  on the Gibson Road campus

The current CTE digital video area  on the Gibson Road campus.

A view of damaged areas on the 50 plus year old roof of the CTE building on the Gibson Road campus.

A view of damaged areas on the 50-plus year old roof of the CTE building on the Gibson Road campus.

A garbage can under a leak in the ceiling at the Emanuel Axelrod Building on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

A garbage can under a leak in the ceiling at the Emanuel Axelrod Building on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

A leak in the ceiling at the Emanuel Axelrod Building on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

A leak in the ceiling at the Emanuel Axelrod Building on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

Deteriorating and outdated mechanical equipment.

Deteriorating and outdated mechanical equipment.

Deteriorating plumbing & damaged insulation in a hallway.
Deteriorating plumbing & damaged insulation in hallway.
Standing water on the roof of the Emanuel Axelrod Education Center on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

Standing water on the roof of the Emanuel Axelrod Education Center on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

Plastic sheeting and standing water on the roof of the Emanuel Axelrod Education Center on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

Plastic sheeting and standing water on the roof of the Emanuel Axelrod Education Center on the OU BOCES Gibson Road campus.

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