When the 62,000-square-foot Toastmaster factory building became available, Columbia Independent School board members saw a near-perfect fit for their growing school. Working on an incredibly tight schedule, Hercon began work on the $1.7 million project in April. The job was finished in time for school to start in August.

CIS parents invested sweat equity in the project, taking apart hundreds of office cubicles and pulling up thousands of square feet of carpet tiles to get the building ready for renovation. They filled 10 semi-trailers with Toastmaster desks, filing cabinets, computers and office equipment, much of which was repurposed by the school.

“The team effort going into this project, with information flowing among contractors, owner, and design professionals helped us stay on track,” said Jeff Herigon.

Project highlights:

• Spacious, light-filled classrooms
• Hallways and common areas illuminated by skylights
• State-of-the-art science labs, equipped with professional-grade equipment
• 3,000-square-foot media center
• 1,000-square-foot fitness center
• 150-seat cafetorium
• Arts center with separate instructional arts, performing arts, instrumental music and vocal music rooms

The project presented enormous challenges, starting with the schedule. Demolition began in April and school opened in August. It is my honest opinion that Hercon Construction is the only company that could have brought this job to a successful conclusion. From the school headmaster to the clean-up crew, people involved with the project liked Jeff and trusted his judgment. His total dedication and strong work ethic helped foster the teamwork and extra effort it took to get the job done. — Otto Maly