STATE COLLEGE — The Park Forest Middle School project will officially move forward after the State College Area School Board of Directors approved bids at its meeting Monday, May 4.
Total bids for the project amounted to just over $112.3 million, substantially lower than the estimated cost of $130 million presented in the ACT 34 Budget.
This includes just over $104.6 million for base bids and another $7.6 million for alternate bids, which include solar panels, a retaining wall needed for construction, and bird-friendly glass for the stair towers, which feature the largest expanses of glass and pose the highest risk for bird strikes.
Lobar, Inc. will be the general contractor. The company also served as the contractor for the high school and three recent elementary school projects.
While the bids were lower than budgeted, administrators have said the district continues to face significant capital needs in the years ahead, and the savings will help reduce future financial strain in planning for future projects.
The board also heard from NW Financial, the district’s financial advisor, who is preparing a final recommendation for the size and timing of financing for the middle school and Mount Nittany Elementary projects.
In other business, the board:
- heard a presentation on the Districtwide Facilities Master Plan. The plan includes the work at Park Forest Middle School, Mount Nittany Elementary, and a 10-year capital plan for maintenance of district facilities, including athletics facilities and elementary playgrounds.
- approved the purchase of play equipment to expand the current playground at Mount Nittany Elementary with an inclusive set of play structures, including $58,000 to Willow Playworks for the installation of play equipment and a rubberized play surface and $37,380 to General Recreation for the supply and delivery of the play equipment.
- approved Physical Plant capital projects to be bid for the 2026-27 fiscal year, including roof replacement at Panorama Village and work on the natatorium at the high school North building.
