Dunkirk City Schools – Additions and Alterations to School No. 6

One of New York State’s First “Pathways to Technology STEM and Career College” Programs

LaBella Associates worked with the administration at both the Dunkirk City School District and Erie 2 BOCES to create a program to transform an original 1915 former elementary school into a state-of-the-art P-Tech Academy.

Work included renovating the existing, vacant three-story building to have high-tech classrooms and science and CAD labs. Additions included a new cafeteria/multipurpose room and a 6,000 sq. ft. metal technology lab and welding shop complete with a testing area. Design input and donated equipment from local manufacturers were used to help create the facility.

These extensive alterations and additions allow the students to complete their normal curriculum while learning the art of metal fabrication, welding, and product testing under one roof. This new program enables students from Dunkirk and the surrounding districts to complete their high school diploma while obtaining a two-year college degree in metal technology, thus supporting immediate entry into the local workforce following graduation.

Code-Required Commissioning

The commissioning scope included development of a commissioning plan which identiﬁed the inventory of equipment and systems, description of testing, and easurable performance criteria.

Pre-functional testing and functional performance testing, was also performed which included equipment start-ups, testing and balancing, conﬁrmation that all systems are in accordance with the designed sequence of operation.

A ﬁnal commissioning report was provided at the completion of the project which provided the District with itemized testing deﬁciencies, testing results and a summary of all testing procedures.

Groundbreaking Event

LaBella was proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Dunkirk City School School No. 6 Additions and Alterations project with the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, local students and stakeholders in January 2017.