Demolition underway at Hornell Intermediate School to make space for new addition

A transformative capital project at Hornell Intermediate School is underway, but before anything new goes up something old must come down.

Hornell school officials announced Tuesday that demolition of the single-story, four-classroom wing at the front of the Buffalo Street school has begun, marking the first phase of a $32 million capital project approved by district voters in December 2022 .

As the old wing demolition began this week, the district posted a reminder for residents to stay clear of the area and follow all posted safety guidelines.

Overall, the project features major improvements to the century-old building, including classroom renovations, a brand new two-story addition for classrooms, remodels to both the nurse’s office and the main school office, and electrical and mechanical equipment modernization.

The project maintains the existing number of classrooms, but classroom sizes will increase.

Work is expected to last a year and a half to two years.

Superintendent Jeremy Palotti said construction will go on continuously through the upcoming academic year and the district is making accommodations to limit disruptions for students and staff

With an enrollment of approximately 500 students, the Intermediate School has second through sixth-grade, but not for the 2024-25 school year. To accommodate construction, sixth-grade students are headed to Hornell High School in September.

🚧 Hornell Intermediate School Demolition Begins! 🚧Demolition of Hornell Intermediate School has officially started. As...

Posted by Hornell City School District on Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Palotti said the district is focused on making the transition go as smoothly as possible for the sixth-graders.

“We have been thoughtful about where they are in the building," Palotti said. "They are very much isolated from the rest of the building, in their own section. A lot of care has been taken to make sure they have a good experience."

The majority of Hornell's 2022-approved capital project focuses on the Intermediate School but there are other projects in the $32 million work plan. The newly opened public tennis courts at the high school were funded through the capital project, as are upcoming renovations to high school classrooms and the installation of new field turf at the stadium.

Work is just getting started. In December, voters also approved a separate $30.2 million capital project — the second phase of the long-range facilities strategy in the Hornell public school system. The plan includes a new competition gymnasium, replacing a failing roof at the high school and safety enhancements district-wide.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Demolition underway at Hornell Intermediate School to make space for new addition