New Haven High School

East Allen County Schools, a school district in New Haven, Indiana, that serves nearly 10,000 students, undertook a system-wide, bond-funded building program starting in 2016. Primary Engineering was selected to be the MEP contractor for the $29.2 million renovation of New Haven High School, built in 1977 and home to approximately 1,000 students. Completed in 2019, the project consisted of constructing a secure entrance, adding an auxiliary gym, and adding a two-story wing for grades seven and eight to the building that had never undergone any renovations since it was built. The entire building was renovated with new systems and new finishes throughout.

While the project scope was constrained by budget, keeping the schedule on time with a strict phasing plan was crucial to making sure the added classroom space was ready ahead of the scheduled demolition of the facility that had been housing grades seven and eight. In developing the phasing plan, we had to consider the replacement of all air handlers, the boiler and chiller plants, and electrical service panels. The new chiller and boiler plants are modular systems that allow just the right amount of chiller or heat to be brought online to match the load in the building while maximizing plant efficiency. New LED lighting was installed throughout the building, and new site lighting was added for enhanced building security.