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Jim Darcy School

home of the mustangs

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Jim Darcy Facility Planning Meeting

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Calendar of Events:

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:

June 21, 2019: The old Jim Darcy School has been completely demolished to make room for the new playground. Landscaping is the next step for the exterior, as a grant was received to plant trees all along Lincoln Rd. On the interior, painting continues, and flooring, whiteboards, and fixtures are being installed.

October 18, 2018: Work continues on the new Jim Darcy School. The third and final pod is being framed. Roofing is taking place and classrooms are beginning to take shape. On October 11th students and staff from Jim Darcy, as well as community members, celebrated a “Topping Out” ceremony as a beam with everyone’s signature was raised and placed by the ironworkers.

August 13, 2018: The past week at Jim Darcy was a busy one. The south side of the center phase slab was poured and electrical and plumbing rough ins are continuing. The east phase erection continues, and the CMU wall at the gym was completed!

July 31, 2018: During the past week a massive slab was poured at Bryant. Foundation work is continuing to take place and steel beams are bring erected.

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY:

The Helena School District has selected Dowling Studio Architects (DSA) to design the new Jim Darcy School. A crucial part of the design process is gathering ideas and input from educators, students, parents and community members.

Since the passage of the bond election in early May, the architects, in collaboration with School Principal Brian Cummings, have organized a series of meetings with:

teachers to understand the needs of teachers and specialists working in the school;
students to envision a welcoming, kid-friendly educational environment; and
parents and community members to focus on meeting the needs of Jim Darcy School families and their neighbors.

On this webpage, you will find a listing of upcoming meetings related to the design and development of the new Jim Darcy School. We encourage you to attend these meetings and to submit comments and ideas as the process moves forward.

MEET THE ARCHITECTS:

Raised in Helena, Mike Dowling received his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Architecture from Montana State University, graduating at the top of his class with Highest Honors. Upon graduation, he was recruited to an award winning Architecture and Planning firm, RTKL Associates, Inc in Baltimore, MD where Mike quickly rose to the status of Associate with the firm working on a wide variety of urban scale architecture and planning projects.

Returning to Helena in 1994, Mike started his practice in 1995 with a desire to make a positive contribution to the built environment where he established his roots. Nothing less than the highest level of design and service based on collaboration formed the foundation for a growing practice. Architecture at a human scale and striving for appropriate design solutions has always been a goal that Mike searches for with each project. Excellence in design can be found everywhere when the right solution is reached.

Mike empowers each team member at DSA with the tools to reach their highest potential. A studio based office keeps communication open and design flowing. Mikes expertise includes building design, planning, project management and consensus building, problem-solving, “big picture” thinking, project budgeting and pro-forma development.

MEET THE PROJECT MANAGER:

Michael Dowling AIA, NCARB

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Riley Ford, PM for Bryant School project

Construction Project Manager: Riley Ford with Dick Anderson Construction

Riley Ford will be Dick Anderson Construction’s Project Manager for the new Bryant School. Riley is responsible for ensuring the entire project’s success starting with preconstruction services through on-site construction operations. Overall project responsibilities include start-up, strategy, value engineering, scheduling, work progress, establishing and maintaining relationships with subcontractors, job quality and job cost controls. Riley works closely as part of the integral team with the District, the District’s Owners Rep, the Mosaic Architecture and all of the other design professionals throughout the entire project.

Riley is a key member of the Dick Anderson Construction team. Dick Anderson Construction has been working with clients across the West for more than 40 years. The company has offices in Helena, Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula, Redmond, Oregon, and Sheridan, Wyoming.

Riley is a graduate of Montana State University with a B.S. in Construction Engineering and a Minor in Business Administration.

GET INVOLVED:

As this planning process continues, we will have more to share with you from blueprints to groundbreaking ceremonies. Follow us on Facebook, sign up for updates and check for new postings on this website. We are excited for the months to come and look forward to sharing it with you every step of the way.

View the Jim Darcy School Guiding Principles here.

VIEW THE SCHEMATICS HERE.

Stay in the loop with all bond happenings. Outreach events are listed below, as well as on our Facebook page. Can't make a meeting and want to provide input? No problem. Shoot us an email here and give us our thoughts, comments and/or concerns.

~~Open Houses for three new schools~~

~~08/24/19~~

Stop by between 9am and 4pm to enjoy guided tours of the brand new schools and speak with contractors, students, educators, and administrators.

~~Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies~~

~~08/23/19~~

3:00 p.m. – Jim Darcy

4:00 p.m. – Central

5:00 p.m. – Bryant

~~Community Presentation: New Facility Design~~

~~09/27/17~~

Jim Darcy gym

6-8 PM