Festus R-6 school officials have taken a step forward on a project to build an indoor fieldhouse and gym that was tabled in 2022.
The Festus Board of Education voted 6-0 on Sept. 18 to hire Brockmiller Construction of Farmington as construction manager at risk (CMaR) for the 2,100-seat fieldhouse project. Board member Brent Abrams was absent from the meeting.
Superintendent Nicki Ruess said three companies replied to the district’s recent request for qualifications, but only Brockmiller submitted a complete bid for the project.
As the CMaR, Brockmiller will collaborate with the Archimages architectural firm and school district officials on the project, Ruess said.
“It’s a team approach,” she said.
Having a CMaR work with the architect and school officials improves communication, keeps the project on track and maximizes quality, Ruess said.
She said Brockmiller will help the district establish the scope and price of the project, and what the district will pay Brockmiller has yet to be decided.
“Over the next several weeks we will move into the preconstruction phase, which will allow us to establish the final project cost and scope,” Ruess said.
Brockmiller’s fee will be tied to the final cost of the project, she added.
District officials began discussing plans for the fieldhouse in January 2021, but in November 2022, the school board voted unanimously to put the project on hold due to the need for more classroom space because of increased student enrollment. Creating that extra space took priority, and the district has since built an addition to Festus Middle School and is in the process of building an addition to Festus Intermediate School to add classrooms.
The fieldhouse project also was put on hold because cost estimates for a 40,000- to 42,000-square-foot “wellness center” and gymnasium building rose from $14 million to $27 million.
Ruess said that what is now called the “gym-indoor fieldhouse” project will be funded with revenue from Proposition F that voters approved in April 2019, authorizing a 59-cent tax levy increase to fund multiple improvements across the district.
“To date, we have delivered on every promise in that proposition – adding two school resource officers; building a new elementary playground and bus pickup/drop-off area; constructing a performing arts center; replacing the Intermediate School HVAC system; expanding the district Chromebook 1:1 initiative; and launching a pre-K program,” Ruess said. “The final remaining commitment is the construction of this new gym and indoor fieldhouse.”
Ruess said the basic ideas for what the facility will offer have not changed since the project paused.
“The facility will include a full gymnasium, a small indoor track and dedicated space for basketball, wrestling, weight room and other athletic events,” she said.
The facility will be located at the rear of the Festus High School campus, 501 Westwind Drive, in the area near the current practice field. It will connect to the existing high school building and include additional parking around the facility.
Ruess said she would like to see the facility ready to open in about two years.
“Given the scope of site work required, it is too early to lock in a final timeline,” she said. “However, my hope is that the gym and indoor fieldhouse will be ready to open in fall 2027. As with all construction, the timeline will remain fluid as the project progresses.”
Ruess said she is glad to see the project moving forward. When the school board members voted to pause it in 2022, Ruess said they agreed to revisit the matter every six months.
“This project represents the final piece of our Proposition F commitments and we are thrilled to see it moving forward,” she said. “ The gym and indoor fieldhouse will provide much-needed space for student athletics, physical education and community events, while also enhancing safety and accessibility for spectators. Beyond athletics, the facility will serve as a gathering place that supports school spirit, student wellness, and community pride.”