CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou Community School project is approaching the finish line, with most major milestones met and others within a week of completion.
The main and auxiliary gym floors, along with artwork, have been installed in Caribou’s new pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school. The heating plant and hot water systems are expected to be finished next week, and with these two items complete the city can issue a certificate of occupancy for the building.
As of Oct. 19, an official opening date has not been set. RSU 39 (Caribou and Stockholm) Superintendent Tim Doak said they are anticipating an opening in November before Thanksgiving.
RSU 39 (Caribou and Stockholm) Superintendent Tim Doak provided the public with a Caribou Community School project update on Oct. 15 following two meetings held regarding the new school. The first was a building committee meeting and the other was a weekly construction group meeting between Bowman Constructors, CHA Architecture and RSU 39.
Doak said the artwork in the Caribou Community School will feature wayfinding mosaic art at the entrance of all classroom wings, and hanging tree panels at the main stairwell. He added that, since 1979, it has been state law that at least 1 percent of the budget for construction or renovation of buildings funded by taxpayer dollars be used to include works of art.
The Caribou Community School is nearing completion, with administrators hoping to open to in-person learning in November before Thanksgiving. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
With the gym floors now complete, Doak said all lines will be painted by early in the week of Oct. 19.
Works in progress, in addition to the heating plant and hot water systems, include the security camera system in the parking lot, which needs a fiber optic cable connection. He said this is scheduled for completion on Oct. 22.
“Bowman is working with the city of Caribou to provide proper documentation to the code enforcement office so the city can issue the certificate of occupancy,” Doak wrote. “Once Bowman provides the needed documentation to show that the building meets all life and safety regulations, the code enforcement office will be able to provide the proper certification.”
The next meeting is set for Oct. 20, after which Doak said he will provide another public update regarding the school’s progress.
