2 — Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 — North Pointe
NEWS Onward and upward: Construction progresses on the third floor By Grace Rossman & Katie Madigan SECTION EDITOR & INTERN
KATIE MADIGAN
The updated classrooms on the third f loor of the B-building are ready to be utilized by students and teachers after being under construction since the beginning of the school year. On Dec. 13, many English classes were moved to these new rooms, while the old classrooms on the opposite side of the third f loor closed for the same remodel. As well as a change of location for their English classes, many freshmen received a new locker on the opposite side of the hall. This proved to be challenging for freshman Jhilmil Chhaya, who is still adjusting to the building, and has never gotten the opportunity to familiarize herself with the building before construction. “We went to our new classroom today to look around, and I had no idea where we even were,” Chhaya said. “It’s definitely going to be harder since I just got used to getting to my class and finding my locker perfectly.” As an English teacher changing classrooms, Kristen Alles understands these possible confusions for the underclassmen. “I think freshmen might have a bit of a challenge,” Alles said. “They're new to the building in general. I think it might be a bit of a challenge for them to get used to which stairwell they need to use, where their classrooms might be and their locker adjustment.” Aside from the possible confusion the new construction has caused, classrooms have been completely modernized. Following suit of the second floor renovations completed over the summer, these classrooms have freshly painted walls, brand new floors, improved technology, new lights and ceiling tiles. In addition to classrooms, the lecture hall has also undergone construction and a complete redesign. The elimination of the movie theater seating has created a space with an open and modern feel, and the space has been turned into two rooms with the addition of a wall. The lecture hall has been designed to match the classrooms updated thus far, according to Assistant Principal Katy Vernier. “You’ve got the accent wall that matches through the whole B-building, the new f loor, and a lot of rooms have these new whiteboards,” Vernier said. The newly reopened North hallway staircase received improvements as well. Although the stairs look the same, the change comes from the addition of tempered glass windows allowing the staircase to stay at a consistent temperature. Throughout the coming years, the rest of the staircases will gradually receive the same update. As junior Vanessa Ciaramitaro walked through the newly opened staircase, she noticed the better regulation of temperature. “I think that in the previous years at North the temperatures in the stairwells were pretty cold,”
Ciaramitaro said, “But, I believe now with the new construction and the new stairwells, that the temperature is more regulated and more comfortable to be in.” In addition to visual and cosmetic changes, asbestos, a cancer-causing mineral, has been removed from the ceiling tiles in the east and west half of the third f loor. Alles finds peace of mind knowing her classroom is now free from it. “When it was there, it was completely covered, so there was no imminent danger or anything like that,” Alles said. “I do think, generally speaking, it gives a little bit of reassurance that it's not there.” Even though there have already been major changes made, North’s construction will continue for about two more years, according to Vernier. The construction will continue to have its effects on underclassmen and upperclassmen alike, including Ciaramitaro. “It's kind of frustrating because one of the best parts of school is passing time and being able to take laps around the hallways,” Ciaramitaro said, “But, it will be nicer for the future students at North to have a new, redone school.”
KATIE MADIGAN
NEW DIVIDE I The changes from construction are shown on the third floor in between the east and west hallway. For English teacher Kristen Alles, these renovations were much anticipated. “I am looking forward to greater space, new paint and a new feeling,” Alles said.
