More than 200 Highlands Ranch Stem High and Academy students were on hand on Jan. 9 to sign and hoist the 40-foot center beam of the school’s 30,000-square-foot addition.
Teachers and staff from the school, 8773 S. Ridgeline Blvd., were also at the site to celebrate the start of construction by Himmelman, a Lakewood-based construction company.
“This is something we like to do with our projects — gather support from the end user, which in this case is the kids,” Barry Himmelman, president of the construction company said. “We believe that if we get them involved they will carry on the pride of ownership for as long as they’re there.”
The goal is to have the addition finished by April.
Himmelman said the hoisting of the center beam symbolizes the completion of the hardest part of the project and now work can move forward on interior works.
This is the beginning of a relationship students will have with the company, as they take a hands-on role in creating the 3-D renderings of the addition.
“We own this — we’re nerds and our students are the ones who get really excited by this kind of work,” Dr. Penny Eucker, Exec Director of the STEM school said. “The kids get to be part of the history and are just giddy over this.”
STEM High and Academy raised $3.3 million in bonds to fund this addition, because space is so limited at the school that overflow students are going to class in a nearby hotel until the project is finished.
The project is an example of the school’s philosophy, which encourages partnerships with businesses, technology and higher education.
“3-D modeling is something our students learn to do here, so we decided to open up some of the designs for them,” Eucker said. “Himmelman has really embraced the learning style of the students and with each step, the partnership between us has deepened.”
Himmelman said he hopes the involvement sparks some desire in the students to learn more about engineering and design.
“This is considered unique but we’re hoping it becomes traditional for companies,” Himmelman said.