ADAMS TWP ― At Tuesday’s Mars Area school board meeting, representatives of Thomas & Williamson Program Management presented updates on the ongoing renovations to Mars Area Elementary School and the potential expansion of Mars Area Centennial School.

The district’s elementary school is being renovated to add a three-story classroom wing, a new cafeteria and an enlarged STEAM classroom and guidance suite.

April saw progress pouring concrete footers and piers, constructing walls for the new three-story addition and associated backfilling and waterproofing.

Some of the work was delayed due to weather. About 14% of the completion of concrete floors and piers is unfinished, according to a Thomas & Williamson representative.

Additionally, crews started work on layout for the kitchen and cafeteria.

This summer, site work is scheduled continue, with replacement of sidewalks around the building.

The elementary school construction, which broke ground in December 2023, is expected to be completed by December 2026, followed by STEAM renovations in 2027.

The renovations to Mars Area Centennial School are expected to be completed by June 2028. The project is currently awaiting selection of an architect.

Site analysis is likely to start in June, with hopes the job can be put out to bid in January of 2027. Procurement of materials starting in February and construction commencing in the following April are anticipated.

Two building options were presented. Regardless of which option the district actually chooses, the original project cost of $18.5 million has risen to about $20 million.

According to the presentation, option one reduces it the project scope ― along with the square footage of the additions ― to cost under $19 million. Option two, because the additions are larger, is projected to cost just under $23 million.

Selecting the option can wait until an architect is under contract due to similarities between the two options, according to the Thomas & Williamson representative.

Both projects were born out of district surveys which indicated a need to address an anticipated increase in population in the coming years.