New drawings, timeline revealed for proposed Quaker Valley High School

New artist renderings of a proposed Quaker Valley High School, as well as a timeline for the district’s next steps, have been revealed.

The proposed 167,000-square-foot school is on 150 acres of land off Camp Meeting Road. It straddles Leet Township, Edgeworth and Leetsdale.

The renderings show a new front entrance with more windows and less brick than previously proposed. There was also more detail in the outdoor space, including retaining walls.

The proposed gymnasium was shown with fans enjoying a basketball game, as well as a typical physical education class.

The images came from the district’s design team featuring BSHM and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects.

They were part of a presentation delivered by Charlie Gauthier, district director of facilities and administrative services, at a school board meeting Aug. 22.

He said the changes to the main entrance came from feedback from teachers and families.

“We just want it to be more open and inviting, and I think they achieved that,” Gauthier said.

The current high school gymnasium is about 6,000 square feet and seats about 500 people. The new gym will be double that.

Gauthier said Quaker Valley has not been able to host WPIAL basketball playoff games or tournaments due to the small court size and limited parking.

The current high school has about 200 parking spaces. Plans for the new one show 500 parking spaces.

Gauthier also noted geotechnical studies at the site were completed, and data is being reviewed by structural engineers.

“As of this point, there is nothing unforeseen on site,” he said. “Our engineers also met with the county to talk about highway occupancy permits.”

Gauthier said county officials asked for more core drilling to be done at the proposed Camp Meeting Road entrances. Proposals for that work may be approved next month.

Gauthier’s presentation was posted on the district’s website under the “Presentations” section of the school board tab.

A poster with the updated renderings will be on display in each school and at the Sewickley Public Library in the coming weeks.

Board member Giani Floro said he was impressed with the updates and the project development process.

“We greatly appreciate the work of the administration and the design team,” Floro said. “At some of our facility committee meetings relative to this, we were really able to ask a lot of questions with regard to what happens with different climactic conditions.

“I was pleasantly happy to hear from our architects and engineers on some of those issues and how they blend in to the design of the building. I couldn’t be happier with our progress and just very thankful for their efforts, Charlie for your efforts, and for the administrative team in this.”

District officials have no plans to sell the current high school or change its use after the new school is built.

What’s next

Gauthier said the board will vote on the maximum project budget Sept. 19.

An Act 34 hearing, a state Department of Education required public discussion districts must have for new buildings and buildings with substantial additions, will take place after that. A date has not been scheduled.

Scott Antonline, district director of finance and operations, said the project is still expected to be within the $95 million to $105 million projections that were made more than a year ago.

A community discussion is planned for 6-9 p.m. Sept. 20 at the high school, 625 Beaver St.

Preliminary and final plan submissions to the Leet and Leetsdale planning commissions are expected to be done within the coming weeks.

Gauthier said the goal is for the board to approve bid solicitation in November or December, with contract bids coming in January or February.

A construction manager would be hired after bids are approved.

The goal is to break ground by next spring and have it ready by the 2027-28 school year.

Another Act 34 hearing would be required if the project goes over budget.

The district is also working on scheduling evening tours of the site. Tours were available over the summer.

District officials have had periodic updates at board meetings and posted them in the “Blueprint QV: New High School Project” section of qvsd.org.

Parents and other residents with questions about the project are urged to contact the district or school board members.