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HANCOCK — The process to construct a new Hancock Middle School building is moving along, and the members of the board of education learned Monday where things stand from a representative of the project architectural firm. Lou Meyette, project manager for Hitch Inc. in Portage Township, said preliminary drawings for the building have been done, and he’s had four meetings with middle school staff to get their input on the plans. That early work is called programming. “At this point we’re saying we’ve completed programming,” he said. Now final schematic drawings can be done, Meyette said. “We will start electrical device layout,” he said. School board members chose to use a construction manager to oversee the middle school project, and Meyette said final drawings will be given to that company. “The construction manager will take our plans and do a construction estimate,” he said. It took a longer than expected to get all the programming done, Meyette said, which has affected the project schedule. “We’re a little behind,” he said. “It is pushing us toward the end date.” Meyette said it’s important to begin construction in October as planned if the shell of the building is to be closed in by winter and have the school ready for the 2009-10 school year. Superintendent John Vaara said he would like to have the building ready in August 2009, but if the move in is later, it shouldn’t be a problem. “If we can’t get in by the end of August, we’ll get in at another time,” he said. “It can be done.” After looking at the drawings for the new building, Trustee Dean Woodbeck said he was concerned the principal’s office is on the second floor. “I really don’t like having (parents) have to go to the second floor to find the principal,” he said. Middle School Principal Monica Healy, who was at the meeting, also, said there will be sufficient signage letting people know where her office is, and it won’t be hard to find. “When you come up the steps, it will be right there,” she said. Woodbeck said he was also concerned that the auditorium as drawn is rectangular, which could negatively affect the room’s acoustics. “There’s nothing worse than an auditorium with bad acoustics,” he said. Meyette said he agreed the shape isn’t ideal, but for the design of the building it was the best choice. “We were told to keep it simple,” he said. “It’s not the best way to build an auditorium, but it’s efficient.” Vaara said he’s pleased with the progress of the middle school project. “I feel like things are going good,” he said. As for the construction manager, board members voted unanimously to choose Gundlach Champion Inc. of Houghton. Vaara said as construction manager, Gundlach Champion will not be involved with any construction but they will oversee all the subcontractors on the project and make certain schedules are kept. The company will also oversee the project to replace the roof and some floor coverings at Gordon G. Barkell Elementary School. Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie@mininggazette.com