Thursday, October 21, 1999
Science wing to be built at school
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL — A new $2.3 million addition to Beechwood High School will bring high-tech science labs and classrooms to students in grades seven to 12.
School officials hope to start construction on the science wing this spring. The addition will be financed through funds already in the district's budget and continued tax revenue.
The addition was years in the making, and is needed to increase lab space for the schools' slowly growing student population. There is only one lab now in use at the high school.
“We need a more modern facility and more space,” Superintendent Fred Bassett said.
Parents and community members can learn more about the new science wing at a presentation at 7 tonight at the school.
And with grades K-12 all under one roof, the elementary grades will benefit, too. Once the new science wing opens, the old lab space will be available for fifth and sixth grade science.
Until then, the Beechwood Education Foundation will work to raise $50,000 for science equipment. Science teachers made a wish list of items they would like to have — from microscopes to a weather station mounted on the roof.
Foundation Director Carol Buckhout said the group is seeking donations and will arrange fund-raising events.
The three-story building will be added on to the end of the high school wing, on Ashton Road. The district will use its playground and a vacant lot it purchased for the building.
The ground floor will be used for storage and office space. The first floor will house four science classrooms and the third floor will contain two large science labs with prep rooms.
Exterior design will match the existing building's brick facade. The addition will also make it easier for future expansions if needed.
“We tried to give the building a high-tech look that says something different is going on in here,” said Robert Hayes, architect, of Robert Ehmet Hayes and Associates architects in Fort Mitchell.
The centerpiece of the structure will be an angular greenhouse on the third floor, centered between the two labs.
The project was designed with the help of school officials and board members. Dr. Bassett attended workshops and toured science labs in Boston and Greater Cincinnati to gather ideas.
The labs will include animal study centers, climate controlled stations to house fruit flies or gerbils and handicapped accessible lab desks equipped with sinks and computers.
Working on the designs has special meaning for project architect Mike Bishop. His son Brent is a third-grader at Beechwood and another son will start kindergarten next fall.
“It gives an added dimension knowing you are able to help your own son in the future,” Mr. Bishop said. “And ironically, he says he wants to be a scientist when he grows up.”
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