Architects have a dream, project engineers need to figure out how to make it a reality and the secretary-treasurer lets them know if there’s money to pay for it.
It’s a scenario that has been repeating itself in the Richmond School District as the seismic project team, led by executive director Frank Geyer, has been systematically planning and executing a dozen construction projects to make local schools earthquake-proof — and stretching dollars to get a few extra perks.
The new technology department at Hugh Boyd secondary is one such project. The old one, built in 1965, was scheduled to be shuttered in March and then demolished as the new one — with an open concept shop, a computer-assisted design (CAD) classroom and a makerspace (a collaborative tech-focused workspace) — opened up for learning.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit mid-March and all schools shut down to…
