The $54M building program for Athens City Schools includes the construction of two new PK-3 elementary schools, additions/renovations to an existing elementary school and an existing middle school, and the demolition of two school buildings no longer needed. To maximize schedule efficiencies, five GMPs coordinated the multiple phases of design and construction for the four facilities.

The new East Elementary and Morrison-Gordon Elementary are each approximately 58,000 SF. Athens Middle School consisted of 109,000sf of interior renovations and miscellaneous site renovations. The Plains Elementary received a 5,000sf addition and 64,000sf of renovations.

Each new building has been designed LEED Silver certification.

Phase One The first phase of this substantial undertaking involved renovation and conversion of the District’s Maple Street Middle School into an Early College High School in partnership with Ohio Hi-Point Joint Vocational School, Columbus State Community College and Honda of America Manufacturing. The transformed facility contains four primary pathways: core academics, health/sciences, information technology, and manufacturing. Scope of work included selective demolition, new finishes, HVAC replacement, fire protection, plumbing and electrical improvements, robotics, and state-of-the-science educational equipment installations. Known as the Union County Innovation Center, the facility offers high quality career / technical college and workforce development programs for nearly 2000 youth and adults.

Phase Two The second phase included renovation of 13,600 square feet of existing classrooms to accommodate the Health Sciences program. In doing so, the areas were converted into sports studies laboratories, health and nursing laboratories, health management space, two examination rooms, wet laboratories, four classrooms, and restrooms. In addition, renovation work and upgrades were performed in the kitchen, dining area, and girls locker room as well as exterior masonry restoration and MEP replacement.

This new $120 million, 395,000 SF high school is currently being constructed on the same 34 acre parcel that has been home to the existing UAHS for over 60 years. Ruscilli has successfully supported daily operations of the existing, occupied facility throughout the construction timeframe. The new school is scheduled to be online for the start of the ’21-22 school year.

The new building features a 3-story academic wing of flexible teaching studios, advanced science labs, and multiple collaborative commons areas. New performing arts and athletics facilities include a 1,500 seat auditorium and black-box theatre, a new Varsity Gym, three-court multipurpose gym and a 10-lane natatorium with a 500 seat spectator gallery.

A newly renovated and expanded stadium has also been built with a new 8-lane track, new home side bleachers and press box, and new concessions and restroom buildings that accommodate visitor locker rooms and expanded athletic storage. Stadium lighting and sound systems were replaced, and a state-of-the-art digital scoreboard was also included. The upgraded 8,500 seat stadium was rededicated in August ‘19.

This new 147,000 square foot 900 student high school is being constructed adjacent the existing high school and will be incorporated into the District’s consolidated elementary and middle school campus. The high school will incorporate 21st century learning concepts as well as an 800 seat auditorium and 1800 seat gymnasium. Upon completion, the existing high school and attached stadium seating will be razed.

1994

This $35.6 million, 30-building, project consisted of:

Phase I – Construction of two new Elementary Schools, renovations and additions to three Elementary Schools and two Middle Schools.
Phase II – Renovations and additions to three Elementary Schools and one Middle School.
Phase III – Renovations and additions to two Elementary Schools and one High School.

In addition, construction services included multiple capital improvement projects at 16 separate schools and facilities as well as coordination of asbestos abatement.

1998

Ruscilli was awarded a contract to manage construction of South-Western City Schools’ $125 million, 17-school undertaking. This project consisted of one 2,200-student High School, a Career Academy, a 750-student Middle mSchool, four Intermediate Schools, expansion at three High Schools, renovation of physical education and/or stadiums at three High Schools, and four Middle Schools.

In addition to the original bond issue, South-Western City Schools executed an $8,000,000 change order to include renovation for three additional schools as well as construction of one additional Elementary School.

2012

This $249 million, 16-building, project consisted of:

Phase I – Construction of four new Elementary Schools, one new High School, renovation of two Elementary Schools.
Phase II – Construction of five new Elementary Schools.
Phase III – Construction of four new Elementary Schools. In addition, construction services included asbestos remedation, demolition, and site restoration at 17 separate schools.

2019

Ruscilli has proven track record of successful projects with South-Western City Schools and was awarded a contract to manage construction of their $50 million undertaking. This project consisted of abating/demolishing two existing Middle Schools, as well as building two new Middle Schools. Each Middle School has a projected enrollment of 801 students and includes a new track/football field.

2018

As Phase 1 of Worthington City Schools’ 3-phase Master Facilities Plan, the District embarked on a $63M undertaking to improve and expand their four middle schools to accommodate transitioning grade 6 out of the elementary buildings. This reconfiguration provided additional classroom space, expanded food service and cafeteria spaces, upgraded science teaching labs and enhanced music rooms.

All four middle schools were complete for the beginning of the 2021 school year and are LEED silver certified with a high degree of importance on natural light and sustainability.

Owner Agent

Ruscilli has provided continuous Owner Agency services to Worthington City Schools since 2008.

This includes over 1000 collective construction assignments performed at eleven Elementary Schools, four Middle Schools, two High Schools, Alternative School, Education Center, Outdoor Education Building, Administration Building, and Transportation Center.

Responsibilities involve the planning, solicitation, execution, and closeout of ongoing facility maintenance projects, repairs, renovation, and new construction programs while collaborating with multiple design professionals, consulting engineers, building inspectors, school administrators, faculty, and students.

1998

This $16 million, multi-site undertaking consisted of the 92,000 square foot 1,000-student Indian Trail Elementary School as well as renovations and additions to the existing Middle School building.

2001

This $17 million K-12 program included construction of the new 575-student Winchester Trail Elementary School plus a 44,400 square foot academic wing and cafeteria expansion to Canal Winchester High School. In addition, Ruscilli renovated 55,000 square feet of space at the existing Intermediate and Middle Schools.

2005

This $35.5 million project includes construction of a new 921-student Middle School and a 49,244 square foot gymnasium/academic addition to the existing Winchester Trail Elementary School.

2017

The program for this $24 million high school addition/renovation includes 42,000 SF of expansion, providing a new auxiliary gymnasium, new media center, 11 new classrooms and 5 new small group rooms. 157,000 SF of comprehensive renovations were also included, renewing and enhancing the existing administrative suite, 2-story classroom wing, student dining commons area, and lobbies, corridors and public spaces throughout. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems have been substantially replaced and/or upgraded, and new fire detection and suppression systems were added to the entire facility. Significant site improvements and utility work were also included.

Construction has been performed over eight phases to ensure classes and school functions were maintained throughout the 26 month period. Improvements to Canal Winchester High School were completed on-time for Owner move-in in August of 2020.

Ruscilli was selected to manage the construction of Pickerington Local Schools $59 million capital improvements program. This project consisted of a new 86,000 square foot Elementary School and a connecting 193,000 square foot Elementary / Middle School.

“Ruscilli has worked directly with the district’s architects, Steed Hammond Paul, and the Ohio School Facilities Commission.  Ruscilli has reviewed project plans, established cost estimates, held progress meetings, attended Board of Education meetings as needed, and supervised early site work on one of the buildings.  The district has been very pleased with how they have worked in a positive and collaborative way with us.”

W. Vince Utterback, Treasurer