Final contact for Muldown build approved

The Whitefish School Board on March 12 unanimously approved a contract for the final phase of construction for the new Muldown Elementary School building.

The contract with Martel Construction sets the guaranteed maximum price for the construction at $21.4 million. The total cost of constructing the new school, as well as decommissioning and buttoning up the old Muldown school building is $24 million, Dow Powell, owner’s representative for the district, explained during the meeting.

Powell said the first shipment of steel for the school was received recently and would hopefully soon have the kitchen area steel erected.

Most of the foundations are in, he added, as well as the firewall and elevator shaft.

Voters last October approved a $26.5 million levy request by the district to build the new school. The existing school faces issues like overcrowding and a failing infrastructure.

The new school was designed by architectural firm L’Heureux, Page and Werner and will be a two-story building with its own full size gym and a student capacity of about 755 students.

The new school’s exterior mixes colors like green, gray and a wood grain pattern among a variety of materials all around the school. At the entrance, a tall set of glass windows looks into the school with a slanted, overhanging roof. In front of the entrance is a larger planter with trees and flowers that also helps to create a commons area where students can wait to be picked up and dropped off.

Construction of the building has split into three phases.

The first phase covered the construction of the bus loop, all sidewalks, fencing and prep work on the grounds. Phase two laid the foundation, structural steel and concrete masonry units.

Construction began in July 2018 and was originally planned to be completed by fall of 2020 but has since moved up to May of the same year.