Appleseed Ready to Present UCHSCapital Campaign to U. City School Board UCHS Departments Outline 10 Year Building Needs for Academic Wings
UNIVERSITY CITY, MO, December 2006 - Project Appleseed is ready to present the University City Board of Education and the City Council with the details of the ten year plan to raise private funds to renovate the historic 75 year-old University City High School. A public presentation of the concept will be held in the University City Library in early 2007. The plan transforms non-revenue producing athletic facilities into a state-of-the-art regional recreation facility that will generate revenue for a private foundation run by the school's alumni. Foundation proceeds will be used to air-condition and renovate the academic wings of the building. UCHS department heads and faculty have provided the details on what the high school will need in the future and their input has been placed into the plan.
The plan was conceived by Project Appleseed with the strong encouragement of former Superintend Dr. Vern Moore Ed., who retired in June of 2005, and Dr. Beth Bender, principal of University City High School. The University City Board of Education has not and will not be asked to endorse or approve this concept until the completion of a facility impact study and capital campaign feasibility study. (the date will be posted on projectappleseed.org/ucity when scheduled). Project Appleseed has received broad support among school board and community leaders. Project Appleseed is seeking "seed money" or contributions from alumni and community members to cover the planning phase of the project which is projected to cost $200,000. (see Project Coordinator Expense Summary in plan).
By enhancing the attractiveness of University City High School, the District can increase middle-class support for the district as a whole. Middle-class parents in University City want quality, safe, and modern public schools. Rebuilding UCHS provides an opportunity for the school to serve an even broader spectrum of the community. Broader use of UCHS will generate a wide range of citizen, community and business support for University City schools.
"Welcome to the end of the bake sale. This project is a testament to what involved parents can really do to improve their local schools in the 21st century. Every step of the planning has been driven by parent and alumni experts in the fields of architecture, engineering, facilities planning and capital campaign development. This will be a fund raising model that can be exported to other schools across America," said Walker.
Project Appleseed has selected two sets of highly qualified consultants to advise on the development of the capital campaign and the programming and design of the wet and dry parts of the recreation center.
Facility Impact Study
Counsilman/Hunsaker & Associates : In 1970 legendary Olympic swimming coach, James E. "Doc" Counsilman, PhD and former 3-time National Champion and World Record Holder, Joe Hunsaker joined forces to create what has grown to become the Aquatic Design Industry.
The firms two founders shared an almost spiritual passion for swimming and for improving aquatics in America. They dreamed a new dream - and envisioned unique and exciting aquatic centers serving every need from world-class competition to community recreation.
Many of the facility innovations that are now standard in the industry leapt to life from the minds and drawing boards at Counsilman Hunsaker. Their unique understanding of swimming and insights into swimmingkinetics led them to new solutions in both facility design and operational efficiency.
Counsilman/Hunsaker & Associates provides a variety of management knowledge based services for park and recreation organizations, sporting operations and a variety of recreation facilities. Facility impact studies are used by administrations and boards before moving forward with a major capital development project, the Facility Impact Study analyzes the operational and economic impact that would occur resulting from the creation of the new facility. Concepts are created in concert with the needs of the community.
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study
Anne Borman holds an MA in business administration and serves as Editor and Publisher of The Directory of Missouri Foundations, a popular reference tracking $10 billion in charitable assets in the state. She offers organizations a unique combination of strategic thinking, technical expertise, and people skills, demonstrated by many years of successful practice and a growing national reputation. Anne's guidance can be seen in a number of major capital projects on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The skyline has been dramatically altered by the Blanche Touhill Performing Arts Building, a focal point for the university, and the Children's advocacy Center on the South campus.
The concept and preliminary sketch plans were developed by the Concept & Construction Team that included Jerry Sincoff, UCHS Class of 1951 and a 2004 inductee into the UCHS Hall of Fame. Mr. Sincoff is the retired president of HOK Architects, the world's largest architecture firm. Greg Mayes is the parent of a 2001 graduate of UCHS and an architect with Ittner Architects. Ted Christner is the designer of the Center of Clayton and Chairman of Christner Architects. UCHS Principal Beth Bender, Athletic Director Kim Loomis and Project Appleseed National Director and UCHS parent Kevin Walker also participated in the design session. Mr. Arnold Spirtas UCHS 51', is President of Spirtas Wrecking and a 2004 inductee in the UCHS Hall of Fame. Mr. Adam Kruvand UCHS 93', is a partner in Studio2a (http://www.studio2a.net) and will join the Concept & Construction Team from his offices in Chicago, IL. Adam lives in Chicago and has stepped forward to provide the architectural illustrations that will be needed to market the the project to alumni. Alex Tryson is a 2001 graduate of UCHS. Mr. Tryson is an architecture student at the University of Kansas and serves as project intern.
Downloads and Links:
Project Appleseed. Top 10 Education Organization In the United States of America. Teacher magazine and Parenting Magazine projectappleseed.org/ucity.html THE UNIVERSITY CITY CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT projectappleseed.org THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PACE/Project Appleseed U. City 520 Melville Avenue University City, Missouri 63130-4506 Fax: 314-725-2319
