Hickory County School District | Skyline Safe Room

The Skyline Safe Room project for the Hickory County School District involved the construction of a standalone FEMA Safe Room, spanning 11,000 square feet.  The safe room functions as a shared gymnasium for the elementary, middle, and high schools located on the premises.  It is equipped with storage areas, restrooms, locker rooms, and a mezzanine storage level.  The district made several applications for a FEMA grant, which was eventually granted in 2021.  Additional funding for the project was secured through a successful bond issue in 2019.

The project’s design phase coincided with the peak of COVID-related price surges.  As a result, we approached the bidding process with a series of significant bid alternates, both additions and reductions to various design elements.  This strategy aimed to deliver the best possible outcome for the district while adhering to the budget constraints.  Fortunately, the project’s final cost came in below the budget and significantly lower than the estimated cost.  This favorable outcome allowed the district to decline all cost-reducing alternates and accept all additional alternates.