Chamberlain center to be discussed

Talk about it

CHAMBERLAIN — The Chamberlain School Board will discuss the latest design for an event/performing arts center in Chamberlain tonight.

Puetz Corp. in Mitchell presented the new floor plan to the school board and city commission in a joint meeting on Sept. 13.

The new option proposes a $9.72 million cost for construction, with $1.24 million for developing a concrete parking lot and $1.66 million for performing arts center features

such as catwalks, acoustical treatments, theatrical lighting and audiovisual equipment, said Jerry Claseman, project coordinator for Puetz. The latter cost projection was based on O’Gorman High School’s recent project in Sioux Falls.

A $300,000 building construction contingency cost and $287,664 in extra costs such as fees, excise tax, bonding and insurance for the performing arts center could push the total to $13.2 million.

Superintendent Debbie Johnson said the design uses all available space in the best possible way for the money both parties are prepared to spend.

But the school board will need to discuss the parking lot and performing arts center equipment aspects of the project and determine whether to trim them.

“This is what our joint committee had come up with (for) the project that we believe meets the needs of our school district and our community,” she said.

The latest design features a more efficient use of space, with an entrance in the southwest corner.

“It saves some space to give it a more grandeur look,” Claseman said.

The new option of 55,432 square feet features a slightly smaller gym with 2,314-seat capacity, much smaller preevent space with 4,742 square feet and administrative offices and mechanical room at 2,299 square feet.

The 35,960-square-foot event center, which includes the gym, also has a wrestling room, concession stands, weight rooms and an eighthmile-long walking track.

The 12,442-square-foot performing arts center proposes a capacity of 515 seats.

Puetz came up with a smaller, lower priced version of what the city and school district wanted, Claseman said.

Both entities have lined up funding for up to a $10.2 million project that would be built onto Chamberlain High School.

The school district would need to seek voter approval on a $4.2 million bond and is contributing $1 million from a bond redemption fund.

The city will kick in $1 million in revenue bonds and a $1 million donation from the Barger Foundation. It would need to raise $2 million in a future capital fund-raising campaign and $1 million from outside sources, such as donors.

Though the gym is smaller than one of 2,500 square feet previously proposed in two other options, Johnson said it will meet the needs of both entities.

The event center also opens the possibility of luring other schools or colleges that might want to conduct events in Chamberlain because of its central location in the state, she said.

Chamberlain Mayor Doug Nelson said he was pleased with the design, saying it will meet the city’s needs. While the original plan called for a 5,000-seat arena, he said one has live with the design.

“Will you be able to hold a state basketball tournament? No. We’ll still be able to hold regional events,” he said. “It will fit almost everybody in the community in the building at one time.”

The city is waiting for the school board to take the lead on the project because many of the center’s features are related to the school district, Nelson said.

As for the parking lot portion, Johnson said the lot will be mostly concrete and it could be done in phases.

School officials also will need to determine how much of equipment is needed for the performing arts center.

“We want to get the cost estimates close to where they might be,” she said.

Johnson had laid out a timeline for the project two weeks ago that included public input meetings, but she said that needs to be revised. Johnson anticipates that today’s meeting will give new direction on how to proceed.

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