New modular buildings at Westlake Academy ready for 2023-24 school year

The new modular buildings that were brought in to replace the aging portable buildings at Westlake Academy will be ready for teachers and students in time the new school year. While the original final delivery date in the contract was Aug. 14, substantial completion of the modular buildings will happen by Aug. 6, said Jed Theis, chief operating officer of Brodie Modular.

“The reality of it is, we’ve done wonderful, and it’s all thanks to the people in this room,” Theis said at the July 31 Westlake City Council meeting. “We’re really excited about how quickly this [project] has come together.”

The backstory

Mike Colby, a Westlake resident as well as executive chair and CEO of Brodie Modular, said the specifics of the new modular buildings include:

• 12,500 square feet of space
• 12-14 classrooms with accommodations for 25 students in each classroom
• Restrooms for students and two private co-ed bathrooms for teachers
• Separate private areas for administrative offices in each building
• Charging stations for devices and Wi-Fi access points

Replacing the portable buildings has been on council’s radar for several years, with health and safety issues being perhaps the biggest concerns due to the age and condition of the portable buildings, according to city documents.

Quote of note

During the Feb. 21 council meeting, Council Member David Quint read an email from a teacher who teaches students in the portables:

“I’ve had to endure the smell of a dead rodent for over two months. When the air conditioner comes on, my wall vibrates, making empty chairs and desks vibrate. Everyone is aware of the safety risks from weather or the unthinkable. Also, it is hard to entice a new teacher to come to Westlake Academy and work in a portable,” Quint said, reading from the email.

Diving in deeper

Theis mentioned even with several upgrades requested by council—including more windows, closets and cabinets; and upgraded flooring—as well as outdoor work, including landscaping and concrete work, all the work should be done the week of Aug. 7.

“We’re very confident that when the school kids are running around, they won’t show up and it’ll be a mound of dirt around [the modulars],” Theis said. “They’ll show up and it will be complete.”