Macon County Schools’ Director of Plant Operations Tracy Tallent gave a construction update for Franklin High School at the November school board meeting, pointing out the beginnings of construction for the basement of the gym.
Some elements of Franklin High School have risen quickly from the ground over the course of the past couple of weeks, including continued construction at the parking lot and stadium buildings and construction on the gym. Tallent said walls were being built for the gym’s basement level where the locker rooms will be located.
The contractors are currently installing 520 aggregate piers – underground stone columns designed to strengthen the ground and stabilize slopes for construction – to help make sure the three-story high school building is safe and stable. Contractors are installing a brick veneer for the concession stand at the football field and the student parking lot lights will be installed the week of Thanksgiving.
Tallent said he was working with the Macon County 911 director to help ensure the main address for the school remains 100 Panther Dr., which he said should be possible but there will be specific rules and requirements that will need to be met for that to happen. The school’s detached buildings, such as the home and visitor concession stands and the field house will also have their own building numbers.
Carroll Daniel, the construction management company in charge of the project, expected to be working seven days a week up to Thanksgiving to stay ahead of the winter weather and keep production on schedule. School board attorney John Henning praised the company for its assistance and professionalism.
“Carroll Daniel is just an exceptional construction manager,” he said. “We are constantly fighting with all kinds of contractors about not having enough people on the job after the fact when we’re already late and we’re … months and months behind to try to fight to catch up. I have never run into one who was doing seven days of work catch up dates ahead of time.”
“I have never worked with a contractor of their magnitude, it’s really a joy to work with them,” Tallent said. “If you see them around the community or anywhere, I want it to be a positive response to Carroll Daniel because they have really went above and beyond for us in this project, I’m really glad that we chose them.”