Mead School District currently has facilities under construction valued at $22 million, says Ned Wendle, the district’s director of facilities and planning. 

The largest project, a new 4,500 seat, 15,800-square-foot stadium and performing arts facility located at 12509 N. Market, rings in at $17 million for the stadium and auxiliary buildings. 

Other public facilities currently under construction are the district’s new $1.7 million transportation facility and its new $1 million maintenance building, says Wendle.

Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor on all three projects, says Wendle, and all three are designed by ALSC Architects PS, also of Spokane. 

The stadium will have a separate 7,200-square-foot locker room building, which has estimated construction value of about $747,000. A 5,600-square-foot concessions and restroom building is also planned at the site, with a total construction value of $730,000. 

Three natural grass fields for soccer and lacrosse games will be developed as well, adds Wendle.

Beyond being a stadium for sporting events, the new field will give the marching band, color guard, and drill team a safe place to practice, says Wendle. Currently, these teams currently practice in parking lots or throughout the nearby neighborhoods. 

Construction on the stadium is to be completed by late fall 2020.

The 15,000-square-foot maintenance facility will accommodate the district’s maintenance crew and will be located at 12510 N. Market, near the new stadium, says Wendle.

The maintenance crew currently operates out of a former school building.

“It’ll be a big step up for maintenance to have their own facility,” Wendle says.

The $1.7 million transportation co-op building, which is under construction at 12304 N. Market, will be the base for 90 employees and the district’s 110-bus fleet, says Wendle. 

The co-op will serve the Mead School District, as well as the East and West Valley school districts, to help the schools save money on repairs and other costs associated with running a transportation facility says Wendle.

The 23,400-square-foot single-story facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Funding for all three projects was included in a $114.5 million bond approved by voters in 2018.