NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY

      On a hill that overlooks the Mt. Washington Valley and surrounding mountains, sits the new Kennett High School & NH Region #6 Vocational Center. The school is sited on approximately 63 acres and is serviced by a new mile-long access road off US Route 302.  The new school is a 3-story building containing classrooms, library, gymnasium, band room, 700 seat auditorium, cafeteria, and a separate wing to house one of New Hampshire’s Career and Technical Centers.  The 1000-student facility is a 200,000 square foot building designed by Banwell Architects of Lebanon, New Hampshire. H. E. Bergeron Engineers (HEB) of North Conway worked with Banwell and the Conway School District from concept to completion of the project for both civil and structural design services. Design services included site selection, boundary and topographic survey, preliminary and final design, permitting, preparation of construction documents, bidding assistance, and construction administration. The project included a 4,450’ access road to the site and associated site improvements such as parking areas, interior drives and sidewalks, athletic fields, stormwater management, water, wastewater, and utility connections. 

            Bounded by mountains on the west, the proposed Conway By-Pass to the north, a Public Service of NH right-of-way to the east and a large drainage feature which splits the site in half, site layout proved challenging.  In addition to the large building footprint, HEB provided the layout for the associated drives, parking areas, stormwater management, utilities and athletic fields.  The site has 6 tennis courts, 1 multi-use field and track facility and 8 additional athletic fields. To maximize available space, HEB utilized the concept of overlapping athletic fields for different season sports. Each field area required a unique drainage design which challenged HEB engineers.  Additional design challenges came in the form of drainage controls and wetland permitting. The site had a significant watershed from the hill and a large gully which needed to be diverted., Mitigation for wetland permitting was provided by a conservation easement on the property, requiring extensive coordination with the NH Dept. of Environmental Services.

In addition to civil design services, HEB provided structural design for all aspects of the building.  Working with a 3-D computer model, the structural engineers could visualize the architect’s design concepts for the various areas of the building.  The central building is a structural steel frame with steel joists, steel deck panels, and concrete slabs. Light-gauge steel trusses were used in the roofs of the administrative offices and adjacent corridors and entry way.  In the library, exposed glue-laminated timber framing provides a wood-effect which highlights the large windows and view of the mountains. The variety of materials used throughout the building combines aesthetics and functionality, defining the building, and giving it a sense of individuality.  During construction, HEB worked with the construction manager and architect to review and approve shop drawings, coordinate with different building trades, and resolve any unforeseen structural issues.

   Targeted for completion, and opening for the 2007-2008 school year, HEB is proud to be a part of its community’s new school project.