The Connection

The plan for renovation of Langley High School was presented to parents by Langley High School Principal Matthew Ragone and Mr. Brady Rauch, Fairfax County Public Schools Coordinator, Design and Construction, at a presentation in the LHS auditorium on Wednesday morning, June 11. The FCPS Office of Design and Construction, working with the Washington, D.C. office of Perkins Eastman Architects, P.C., put the LHS renovation project out for construction bids on June 5; bids are due from general contractors on July 9; and by the time students start back to school on Sept. 2, preparation for Phase I construction will be underway.

THE LHS RENOVATION is what the Office of Design and Construction refers to as a “phased occupied renovation,” meaning that construction will take place year round. The work has been divided into three phases that will span three and a half years. Phase I primarily consists of building an addition on to the rear of the school for new classrooms and labs, and constructing another addition toward the front of the school for the Performing Arts wing and school administrative suite. In order to accommodate the rear addition, the tennis courts will be relocated to the athletic fields. Relocation of the tennis courts is one component of an overall site plan that also includes parking improvements, incorporation of outdoor learning spaces and full accessibility to the athletic fields. Phase I is scheduled to be completed by December of 2015.

Rauch assured the parents that the Office of Design and Construction has proven expertise in construction management, experience with phasing and isolating work areas, and that, “we finish on time.” Rauch introduced Jay Zayas, the Construction Manager with the Office of Design and Construction responsible for oversight of the complete school renovation and expansion of FCPS George C. Marshall H.S. that is due to be completed at the start of the 2014 – 2015 school year. Zayas will be responsible for oversight of the LHS renovation, as well.

MANY OF THE PARENTS asked questions about health and safety issues, and about logistics. In answering their questions, Rauch and Principal Ragone referred to the many policies, procedures and standards that have been established by Fairfax County Public Schools, its Office of Facilities Management, and the Office of Design and Construction. Any work that interrupts electric, water, heating or air conditioning services is scheduled for when staff and students are not in the building to minimize disruption of the school’s learning environment.

Both Rauch and Principal Ragone were open about the extensive adjustments needed to initially stage the construction and during Phase I, the longest phase of the renovation. As this school year draws to a close, teachers are currently preparing to relocate. Classrooms within the existing school building will be moved and rotated through 32 portable classrooms to facilitate the renovation. The brand-new “quads” have already been installed at the rear of the parking lot. The Band, Chorus, Orchestra and Theater Arts programs will hold performances off-campus at alternate performing arts venues while the Performing Arts wing is being constructed; and LHS Principal’s Coffees will be held at Cooper Middle School.

“When I saw the phasing for this, I was really excited. …We are really at a great crossroads here for innovations,” said Principal Ragone, later reiterating that, “I am going to appreciate everyone’s flexibility and patience throughout the whole process, but in the end, we are going to be rewarded for that flexibility and patience.”