Photo provided Shown here is a rendering of the future John Marshall High School Aquatic Center. Colaianni Construction submitted the winning bid of $37.4 million for construction of the center.

The Marshall County Board of Education recently approved Colaianni Construction as the contractor to build the new John Marshall High School Aquatic Center with a bid of $37.4 million.

Michael Price, facilities director for Marshall County Schools, said the contract for the work will soon be signed by the company with work expected to begin on Jan. 1. The project is expected to last two years.

Colaianni was the low bidder on the project and met the district’s bond requirements. Other bidders included Waller Corporation at $37,964,800; Massaro at $37.998 million; Rycon at $38.150 million; Highley Construction at $38.5 million; and Muscaro at $39.970 million.

“We’re very happy with the amount of contractors that bid on the project,” Price said.

The two-story building will have 68,000 square feet of space and contain a competition swimming pool, warmup pool, track, weight room, multipurpose room, concessions, two classrooms and more.

The center will be located on the campus grounds of JMHS.

A portion of the aquatics center building, about 7,500 square feet, will be leased and used by WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital. Price said the district is still working on the details of the lease with the hospital, but it will probably last 20 or 25 years. The lease money will help the district recuperate what it is spending on the project. About $15 million of the funding for the project was set aside from operating tax levy money approved by county voters in 2017.

The hospital’s portion of the building will include a cardiac rehab area, exam rooms, reception area, clinical nutrition room, a waiting area, a lab, a provider’s office and more. It will also use the warmup swimming pool for its cardiac rehab patients.

Once it is open, Marshall County residents will also be allowed to use the facility during designated times, said Superintendent Shelby Haines.

Omni Architectural and Engineer Services designed the facility and Counsilman-Hunsaker Aquatics for Life consulted. The competition pool will have eight lanes and movable bulkheads. The facility will be large enough to host large swim meets. It will also include bleacher seating by the pool.

Price said the facility is a win for the students, residents and WVU Medicine.

“I’d say yes, it’s a game changer for me for what it will offer our kids. With this partnership it’s just the beginning of what it can morph into, what kinds of other things we can offer educationally for our kids,” he said.

“We’re very excited. It’s a very large project with a lot of details to be worked out before the shovels go in the ground. The next two years will be challenging but very rewarding.”

Haines noted the school district has worked with Colaianni Construction in the past. She said the district was “extremely happy” with the work the contractor did at Washington Lands Elementary School.

“That was done over several phases while children were still attending and they worked well with us,” she said.