When the previous school year ended in May, work already was under way in Benson Hall on the North Campus, and excavators started razing the Eid Center and hallways attached to it. You may remember that high school students finished May at Concordia College to accommodate early work in Benson Hall.
Unfortunately, certain components of the Benson Hall renovation were knocked off schedule, despite the best efforts from crews working on site. Several factors influence construction schedules.
Those who have studied the history of the North Campus may know that a city street ran in front of Benson Hall until the mid-1960s. People also may know that the Eid Center was constructed near the sites of the school’s original two buildings. Contractors this summer needed to remove some vestiges left from the city street and also some rubble that may have been foundation remnants from those original buildings. Lastly, the summer has included some heavy rains that interrupt site preparation and ground work.
The South Campus work also encountered an unplanned delay that was resolved at the end of July. The playground area was cleared for construction, and crews have started on the parking lot realignments. Things are starting to look a little different! Soon, the footprint of the future gym will be visible.
Benson Hall will look substantially different when it’s finished — new heating and cooling system, new windows, new doors, new flooring, new ceilings, a new classroom, two new offices and other modifications. Unfortunately, the complicated work in Benson will stretch into September.
Therefore, some classes scheduled in Benson Hall will start the year at First Lutheran Church, Generally speaking, the classes temporarily moving to First Lutheran will be those designed for seniors, juniors and some sophomores.
The Rev. Stephanie Tollefson and the Rev. Marty Tollefson — Oak Grove parents who lead ministry at First Lutheran — have been instrumental in this contingency planning. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Tollefsons and the First Lutheran congregation for their support.
At the South Campus, things are expected to continue relatively normally.
We look forward to kicking off the new school year, even as we prepare for the challenges ahead!
