Community members will get an opportunity to see the completed renovations to the Blair High School industrial arts technology center during an open house Aug. 10.
The event, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the BHS gym, will include tours of the new area. At 7 p.m., a live auction of old tools, including saws, drill presses and sanders, will be sold. All proceeds from the auction will go back to the industrial arts program.
“I'm so excited for the public to come through,” said Tom Anderson, director of operations for Blair Community Schools.
While the project was ongoing, Anderson has given tours to anyone who was interested throughout the summer.
“This is as exciting as anything we've done,” he said.
The renovated classrooms will see plenty of students this fall as all of the classes are already full.
“That's a great problem to have,” Anderson said.
The new facility has allowed BHS to add new programs through a partnership with Metropolitan Community College, including four dual enrollment classes — two welding and two precision. Metro will provide instructors at no cost to the district.
The project, which had a guaranteed maximum price of just over $2 million, created a welding lab, with 14 stations, identical to Metro's lab at its South Omaha campus. Also included in the 14,000-square-foot renovation are a construction science lab, manufacturing lab, two art rooms, drafting and computer science lab and robotics and STEM lab.
Anderson said the new classes and space will allow students to gain experience and find out if the trade industry is what they would like to do after graduation.
“I think this is a benefit for every kid coming through the school,” he said.
