PORT ANGELES — Construction at the new Hurricane Ridge Middle School is now moving up — and fast.
In a capital facilities update to the school board Thursday night, Capital Facilities Director Nolan Duce told the Port Angeles School Board that structural steel and metal decking are now in place on level one, marking a major milestone in the project. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is already underway.
“And it’s moving fast. Like I said, these pictures are about a week old. But since then, they’ve finished up all of the steel on level one. They’ve got all the metal decking on level one. They’re going to be doing the hangers so that mechanical, electrical and plumbing can start being hung from the metal deck. And then in about five weeks or so, they’ll be pouring the concrete on the second level. Once we start going up, it goes fast,” said Duce.
Duce said once a project starts going vertical, progress accelerates. He also noted the precision involved — with steel braces and beams installed within extremely tight tolerances.
Concrete work is advancing in several areas, including the music room and service yard foundations. Inside the existing gym, X-ray investigations have been completed to locate rebar and utilities before demolition begins. The contractor takes over the gym April 1 and must return it by January 2027.
Students are also getting a firsthand look at the project. Port Angeles High School skills students recently toured the site and met with contractors about careers in the trades.
“Got to get up and go to work every day. And if it’s raining, it doesn’t matter. You’ve got to enjoy it, or this is the wrong career. But all those guys are making a good living doing this work, and they also all stressed that grades matter — that even in construction, grades matter,” said Duce.
Duce said planning continues on Franklin Elementary and upgrades at Port Angeles High School, including auditorium improvements.
Overall, he told board members the middle school project remains on schedule — and in some areas, slightly ahead.