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The Sam Barlow High School renovation and expansion in east Multnomah County has come a long way in a year.

There’s still another year of work to go. But construction of the project’s most conspicuous element 鈥� a new two-story, 57,000-square-foot science classroom wing 鈥� is in its final stages as crews of drywall finishers, painters, carpenters, electricians and others apply finishing touches. Designed by Opsis Architecture, the new wing is expected to be completed before the start of the 2019-20 school year in September.

The $54 million project is being paid for with money from Gresham-Barlow School District‘s $291 million bond approved by voters in 2016.

鈥淭his week is the end of the school (year), so we’re happy about that,鈥� Mike Levesque, project manager for general contractor Lease Crutcher Lewis said. 鈥淭hen we can start demolition and abatement.鈥�

Over the summer, crews will work inside the existing 51-year-old building, and remove hazardous material, including asbestos, to prepare special education classrooms and administrative spaces for renovation during the 2019-20 school year.

鈥淚t’s mainly the floor mastic,鈥� Levesque said. 鈥淭he ceilings and floors are the primary thing. We’re taking all that out and then we go in and demo out the old administration (spaces) and classrooms.鈥�

Other work will involve finishing installation of a new steel-framed football stadium grandstand and press box, a new FieldTurf playing surface and a new track. A new concessions building also will be built.

The school auditorium, meanwhile, is undergoing a complete renovation. New lighting and sound systems are being installed along with a new stage and new seating. The refurbished facility is expected to reopen this fall.

In addition, a roughly 3,300-foot-long sewer line will be installed to connect the high school with Gresham’s sewer main. For decades the school has been sending daily shipments of tanked sewage to the city’s wastewater treatment plant on Northeast Sandy Boulevard. That practice will finally come to an end with installation of a new line that will serve only the high school.

The two-year project is scheduled to finish by end of summer 2020 with completion of renovations to the school media center, library, black box theater, and performing arts, band and choir spaces. In addition, the rest of the school’s existing classrooms will be receive new floors and ceilings, information technology equipment and more.

鈥淭hey’re going to move into the new building for next year and then we’re clearing out and re-doing the rest,鈥� Levesque said.