PERRYSBURG — Penta Career Center has picked an architectural firm to design its new E-mobility lab and an expansion of the cafeteria.
The board of education at its Dec. 13 meeting approved an agreement with Kleinfelder Architecture Inc., of Bowling Green, to design the spaces.
In November, Penta was awarded a $2.4 million grant from the State of Ohio through the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation to assist in constructing a new E-mobility flexible lab space to be located on the main campus. The grant will fund a portion of the new 8,887 square-foot lab space that is expected to cost about $4,465,541. The lab will be located adjacent to the existing Automotive Technology labs on campus and will primarily serve programs under the Ohio Department of Education’s Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing career field pathway. It will be created with flexible options for instruction on EV chargers, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), EV maintenance, and perhaps drone technology. The space may be used to cross-train students from other programs, such as firefighter students so they can learn skills in both residential and commercial settings.
Kleinfelder was hired in August for master planning, design and related construction administration services. It also is conducting a space analysis study to identify underutilized space in the main campus facility, as well as identify space that needs to be created for current and future program needs.
Penta will pay Kleinfelder an amount not to exceed $454,635 for the E-mobility lab and $410,519 for the cafeteria expansion, which will accommodate an additional 150 students for lunches by extending the wall southeast toward the pond. It will also be available to hold meetings for approximately 70 people.
The board awarded a contract for preconstruction services to Rudolph Libbe Inc., who will serve as the construction manager at risk for the projects, at an amount not to exceed $44,100.
Earlier this year, Penta announced several capital improvement projects that were planned over the next several years.
In May, the board approved the purchase of a 16,000 square foot building in Holland for regional programming for residents in the northwestern portion of the Penta school district.
The board awarded a contract to Van Tassel Construction, of Sylvania, for $1,766,300 to renovate the facility, which was purchased in May for $1.1 million.
The board previously approved a $316,885 contract with Garland/DBS for work on the facility’s roof and $53,800 for early demolition work.
Once completed, the facility will provide primarily adult training programs in the areas of health care, manufacturing, information technology, and skilled trades, along with options for high school students. Both lab and more traditional classroom space is being designed. Occupancy is expected by the end of September with classes starting in January 2025.
The board awarded a contract to Comte Construction, Toledo, for $753,000 to complete space upgrades in the cosmetology classrooms, redesign the customer service entry way, improve ventilation and replace flooring. New furnishings will also be added.
Comte was not the lowest bidder, said Treasurer Michael Harrigan, and was in fact the fifth lowest. The other four bidders withdrew after realizing one of their electrical subcontractors erred in its estimates. The same subcontractor was used by all four.
The lowest bid was $522,840.
The original estimate for the project was $1.4 million, said Superintendent Ed Ewers, and the bid accepted was still very favorable at nearly half the cost of the original estimate.
