Construction begins on new North Logan high school

This spring Design West, a Logan architectural and interior design firm, begun implementation on their model of the new North Logan high school.

The North Logan building is the second of two new schools for the valley. The first is located in Millville at  the south end of the valley. Both schools are being built to accommodate the valley’s growth.

Christian Wilson, a project architect at West, said they started construction at the south school first because that end of the valley has experienced more growth than the north end.

“Most people think the north end is growing more but it’s not. Out in Nibley there’s more,” he said. “Half of the south school will be Nibley kids.”

The district chose to work with two branches of West to oversee the design process. One branch is located in Logan and the other is in Meridian, Idaho.

The district chose to work with two branches because the Idaho firm designed the school that Cache Valley decided to model their schools after.

“The Logan office had the relationship with the district but we had the experience,” said Dion Zimmerman, the project architect from the Idaho firm. “The district came and saw our design and liked it so we modified it to their needs.”

Mike Liechty, the deputy superintendent of secondary education, said he wanted West to keep the design of the schools generic because an elaborate structure would cost more.

“It costs a whole lot of money to plan something elaborate,” he said. “We feel like we can still build a very nice high school with what we’re doing and still be careful with our taxpayers’ money.”

Wilson said it's also important to keep schools generic because people move around.

“You've got to be very generic in your design,” Wilson said. “Teachers and principals get switched around so you can’t let the teachers design their own rooms. We have taken their input to heart and we’re working on incorporating the best ideas."

Dion Zimmerman, the project architect at the Idaho firm, said the north construction site should go more smoothly because they were able to work out construction difficulties at the south school.

"Even though every school is going to be different we can work out the kinks," he said. "We're hoping the north project goes quicker."

Construction on the south school is expected to be completed by the fall of 2016. The north school is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017.