JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley school directors talked over what they liked and disliked about the four architecture firms that are vying for a position to possibly design the new Evans City Elementary and Middle School.

The directors did not reach a consensus, but they may have narrowed down their choices.

Architectural Innovations, CannonDesign, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates and Stantec presented information and answered questions from the school board over two nights in August.

Jim Nickel, school board president, polled his fellow directors on their top two choices after about half an hour of discussion.

Leslie Bredl, Susan Harrison and Tim Hester said Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Association and Architectural Innovations. Kathy Whittle and Nickel named Cannon Design and Crabtree Rohrbaugh. James Welsh said CannonDesign and Stantec. Eric DiTullio said CannonDesign and Architectural Innovations.

Fred Peterson deferred and the Rev. Reid Moon was absent

The board will tentatively vote next week on one firm with which to begin negotiations for the design for Evans City school that houses students in grades K to six.

DiTullio was not present for the interview sessions but he listened to recordings of the interviews. He said he was impressed with CannonDesign for their innovative partnership with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

“I like the idea of this not being something similar to something that was done in Anytown, USA,” DiTullio said. “This is something that will be exclusive to the Seneca Valley way of thinking.”

The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh has retrofitted spaces before, but this would be the first time being involved with a new construction project from the ground up, Nickel said.

Bredl, on the other hand, looked more at the design process and building structure when considering best attributes. She valued Architectural Innovations and Crabtree for their attention to detail on the design process and cost estimate.

“I think when we're looking at this space and we can look at the space for today and what we want …. But this has to last 50 years,” she said. “So what's hot today might not be hot in 50 years.”

As with the architect selected last month to work on a design for a new swimming pool, the architect chosen will explore various options for the Evans City school, which could include renovating the current building, constructing a new school at the Evans City site or building a new school on Ehrman Road in Cranberry and Jackson townships. The board has not committed to any of the options yet.

Tracy Vitale, school district superintendent, asked school directors to think about a few things as they continued to mull the options before them, including looking at the building as a teaching tool, sustainability, how the building can support the whole child's education and mental health, safety and security, innovative spaces and the architecture firm's team.

“Any one of these firms has a team that is qualified to build you an excellent building …. But anyone can make you a space that's a square box with square rooms. Is that what you want?” Vitale said. “Teaching is what matters … but the building should complement teaching from the time the child opens the door.”