Plans are taking shape for a major expansion at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District, which promises far-reaching benefits for multiple communities. On Aug. 7, the board of education approved the SHP interdisciplinary design group as architects for a health, education and community center to be constructed on the district campus.
Early in June, the school district announced it had been awarded state funding to the tune of more than $13 million. Superintendent Brent Ripley said the 28,500 square-foot addition will be built in front of Bridgeport Elementary School.
Ripley said the district is budgeting a little more than $11 million from the grant for construction, with the remainder for the architect and any other surveys and services necessary.
“Those are estimates,” he said. “Our intention is not to use any district money for the construction of this facility.”
Ripley said six architectural firms submitted for the project, and after interviewing three firms the board chose SHP. Ripley said SHP impressed the board in 2021 with their work in extensively renovating Perkins Field.
“The relationship they’ve built with the board and the quality of the work they do is just excellent, and we’re looking forward to just starting the planning process with them and the core team,” he said. “They’ve done great work prior to this board, and we want to keep that vision that they bring to the table and the quality of work.”
Ripley spoke about the proposed schedule.
“It’s going to be about eight to nine months of planning before we break ground. We don’t expect to break ground until students are out of the school in May of this year. We don’t want to disrupt student lives this year, but after the 2024-2025 school year, there will be a year of construction during the 2026-2027 school year. We are grateful and excited about doing everything we can to help our students, community members and the district out, and the eastern side of Belmont County out. We want to build and create something that benefits lives. In a way that enriches them and helps generations of people.”
The expansion has the potential to make the Bridgeport school district a hub of services for the area. Applications are as wide-ranging as providing medical services and training, as well as a space for community events.
The district formed a planning committee made up of Ripley, board of education members Kori Rosnick, Don Cash, Karrie Puskas, Ryan Kreiter, and Patrick McConnaughy, treasurer Eric Meininger, Clark and Kosanovic, guidance counselor Vicki Falcone, past superintendent and past school board member Roger Stewart, Brookside mayor Rich Kurner, Allan Ketzell Jr. of the Brookside fire department, and Bridgeport graduate and grant writer Angela Sommer.
The planning team has scheduled work sessions to develop designs. The project must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.
“We are wasting no time,” Ripley said.
The board greeted Kyle Miller, associate principal and partner with SHP, and project manager and designer Ivan Vukcevich. They are from the Columbus office of the Cincinnati-based design group.
Afterward, Miller said SHP has played a part since the early days of the grant application process, when the firm provided preliminary concepts. Miller said while it is too early to see tangible designs, plans will take shape as they work with the board and planning committee.
“We’re at the earliest, earliest stages. We’re really getting the ball rolling,” he said. “The district did a great job during the grant process to target key community stakeholders to understand the needs of the community.”
Miller said he looks forward to more consultations in guiding the design process.
“Our firm really prides themselves on engagement and trying to understand as much as we possibly can about the communities in which we build.”
Vukcevich agreed.
“To make these projects successful, we need everybody’s input,” he said. “Pencil doesn’t touch paper until we talk to the stakeholders.”
Miller said SHP has experience working with school districts and understands a school’s unique needs.
“School districts are the hearts of communities. They’re a gathering spot for major moments in peoples’ lives,” he said. “I think this innovation and community wellness center is going to be a fantastic addition to the community, and really strengthen the district as its center point.”
Vukcevich added the firm specializes in education and brings experience working on successful projects with a wide variety of schools.
“We love working with schools and we have a lot of experience working with schools,” he said. Vukcevich said work out of SHP’s Columbus office has familiarized them with this area.
More information will be released on the district app. Anyone with questions may call the district office at 740-635-1713 or brent.ripley@bridgeportschools.net.
