Construction Set to Commence At Aquebogue Elementary School

Construction fences have recently been placed around the first construction and renovation area at the Aquebogue Elementary School.

Parents and residents in the community curious about the project have been invited to attend Aquebogue's PTO meeting on Monday at 7 p.m., in the Aquebogue Elementary School cafeteria, to learn about the project, construction, and timeline.

District administrators, architects from BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, the firm that designed the plans, and the construction manager from Triton, will be at the meeting to give the community a detailed overview of the upcoming construction and renovation at the Aquebogue School. 

The project signals the next phase in the Riverhead Central School District's $78.3 million school bond plan; construction at the Phillips Avenue Elementary School kicked off the work in August.

from BBS Architects updated the Riverhead board of education on the bond project and said his group had met with staff to fine tune details of the plans. 

"Things have been progressing nicely with all of our buildings," he said.

Salvesen gave an update on progress with high school plans, going though renderings classroom by classroom.

A "library of the future" is planned, Salvesen said, designed to meet new demands as the library, traditionally home to written texts which are "falling by the wayside," will now be home to over 90 computers for an evolving library experience. He added that in a nod to tradition, there will be room for 3000 additional volumes in the new space, bringing the total number of books to 18,500.

Other new plans for the future include the possible development of a marching band, Salvesen said.

The school's auditorium will be spruced up with new seats and flooring; a study of acoustics is currently ongoing.

Work began first on the three elementary schools, beginning with the Phillips Avenue Elementary School, with Aquebogue and Riley Avenue elementary schools following -- exterior work on Aquebogue and Riley Avenue schools is slated to begin in fall --  and plans for the high school expected to be submitted in early fall.

Construction on the Pulaski Street, Roanoake, and middle schools will follow, with all work expected to be wrapped up by 2015, Salvesen said.