Building Our Future: A Work in Progress

Bella Chiodo & Samuel Parigela

If you’ve noticed the hum of drills or the sight of fencing surrounding the staircases, you’re not alone. Big changes are on the way and our school is getting a major facelift. To update students, Evolution sat down with Principal Michael Ciecek to get the latest on the current construction at OCSA.

The project kicks off with part one, he explained, which includes the construction of the Grand Staircase leading from the container lot to the second-floor cafeteria. The new staircase isn’t just for show, Ciecek added, it is “to add more seating for students, but also another egress point into and out of the building.” Additionally, we’re getting a student lounge built in the breezeway. “How we’re going to use that is yet to be defined,” he commented, but it has the possibility to provide a cozy hangout spot for late start seniors on rainy mornings or a place for students to wait after school—like an expanded homework club, only with a better view. 

So when can we expect these exciting changes? While Ciecek added that delays, specifically permitting issues or weather disruptions, may arise, the aim is to finish part one by the end of winter break. If everything goes according to plan, students could be using these new spaces by the start of next semester. “That’s the hope!” Ciecek emphasized. 

Part two will come next, and this phase is based on overall school security. The idea is to enclose the Tower, Annex, and Media Arts Center with a perimeter fence similar to the DMS plaza. This will create a safer space for students to hang out before and after school, as well as provide more visitor control here on campus. Ciecek foresees Part two to be finished by the end of next semester, scheduled to open to students at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. 

While construction can be disruptive, Ciecek assured us that “what students are experiencing now will be the largest footprint of the construction,” explaining that while it’s a bit of a hassle, OCSA does not predict a larger expansion of the construction fencing than the current size. Thankfully, this means that the currently extended walk periods to class will not get any longer.

As for other construction projects? Right now, there is nothing bigger in the works, although OCSA is working with the Culinary Arts and Hospitality conservatory to build a new culinary lab on the second floor. However, the lab is under construction within a confined space and should be relatively quiet compared to the other projects at OCSA. Anything major will not pop up unexpectedly—future projects will stay within the school’s budget, focusing on necessary maintenance first.

So, while we will have a few more months of barricades and longer waits to make it to class, the end goal is within sight. The grand staircase and student lounge will open up new areas for OCSA students, making the campus more accessible and comfortable. Stay on the lookout!