EHOVE Career Center held a ribbon cutting event on Wed, Oct 14 to celebrate the opening of its latest renovation and construction project. With a goal of enhancing and expanding services in the high school and adult education for our community, EHOVE is committed to providing relevant, high-tech training and equipment. This effort’s purpose is to meet the needs of students and local businesses that is vital to the quality of our local workforce.
The celebratory event was not open to the public due to COVID-19 so only staff, students, Board members and local news media attended.
EHOVE developed a plan with design group The Collaborative of Toledo that covered over 37,000 square feet of new space and over 20,000 square feet of renovated areas.
The total estimated cost of the project was $13 million. The project finished over $500,000 under budget. Because of these savings, repairs in other needed areas, like roofs, can be made.
There were additional savings of $804,500 due to EHOVE Treasurer Tim Coffman refinancing the construction loan. Because of that, the interest rate went from 3.45% to 2.40% which resulted in savings of that amount over the next 13 years.
The project had multiple phases so classes and regular operations were not impacted. Two existing buildings had additions to create career tech labs for the school’s Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Academy, Criminal Justice and Firefighter/EMT high school programs and Adult Ed EMT and Paramedic occupational programs. Renovations also took place in the Library/Media Center, academic classrooms, high school office, cafeteria kitchen and cafeteria.
The project was designed per the ENERGY STAR standard by using LED lighting, approved electronics and energy-efficient equipment, and combining HVAC systems in existing spaces with new areas to minimize additional utility expenses. The fire alarm system was updated, and a parking lot was expanded and had improved lighting installed.
Adaptable furniture, new technology items, Clevertouches, a Force on Force simulator, a SCBA bottle compressor/filler, an ambulance simulator, multiple ovens and hoods, and a range of other culinary equipment were also purchased.
Adena Corporation was selected as the Construction Manager at Risk to consult with architects and other construction professionals. This process is designed to spend tax dollars in the most cost-effective way possible, while still maintaining the integrity and safety of the project. EHOVE successfully utilized this method with Adena Corporation for its previous facility project in 2014.
EHOVE committed to working extensively with local construction professionals on the project. Having a continued partnership with local businesses will ensure EHOVE students have the latest training, equipment and skills necessary to meet the needs of our area employers, while also creating jobs for local workers and a boost to our local economy.
These local companies worked on the project: Barnes Nursery, Mark’s Excavating, Hermes Parker, Firelands Fabrication, Midwest Environmental, Wasiniak Construction, CRM, Interstate Glass, Valley Interiors, Lakeside Interiors, Breckenridge, Custom Fabricators, All State Fire Protection, Bay Mechanical & Electrical and Precision Paving.
Photos of the ribbon-cutting project and evolution of the building project are available at www.Facebook.com/EHOVEworks.