Tarlton Corp., a St. Louis-based general contracting and construction management firm, completed the renovation of Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls, Missouri’s first all-girls public charter school for St. Louis City students that offers a hands-on college preparatory curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Tarlton upgraded the three-story, 58,000-square-foot historic building at 1901 N. Kingshighway Blvd. in St. Louis in 1925 as McBride High School. Work included the installation of a new elevator, kitchen and cafeteria, restroom additions, the build-out of science laboratories, plus painting, lighting and a parking lot addition. Additional work included redesigning the principal’s office area and administration offices, along with bringing the school into ADA compliance.
The Tarlton team was made up of John Doerr, project executive; Joe Scarfino, project director; Diane Grimsley, project manager; Sarah Wilson Mangapora, project engineer; and James Tillman, project superintendent. Grice Group Architects was the project architect. HERA Inc. served as laboratory facilities planner.
A major challenge during the renovation was the excavation of an elevator pit in the basement of the building, an area that would not accommodate large construction equipment. Tarlton, which has provided power and energy services to the St. Louis region for nearly 70 years, charged its Power & Energy Group and HydroVac Services Division with this critical task. The team used a high-pressure mobile industrial system to vacuum wet and dry materials from the site, and then erected a clever conveyer system to transport large quantities of masonry and construction debris from the building.
Hawthorn welcomed 123 sixth-and-seventh-grade students Aug. 17. The tuition-free school will serve 500 girls in grades six through 12 by 2020 and is sponsored by Washington University, which will serve as an active partner providing hands-on assistance from WUSTL educators and students.
