The Ophir Elementary School was a fantastic addition to the Big Sky School District campus. In response to the growth and increased enrollment of the Big Sky community, a $10,100,000 bond was passed by voters to fund the construction of a new K-4 elementary school. The new 47,000 SF facility is complete with:

• 12 classrooms
• Learning Commons
• Special Education classrooms
• Pre-school classroom
• Full-size gymnasium
• Locker rooms
• Serving kitchen
• Cafeteria & multi-purpose room
• Music room
• Administration, office & conference rooms
• Bus loop, parent & teacher parking lots

Construction of the facility started spring 2014 with the installation of a deep foundation system using nearly 400 rammed-aggregate piers, also known as geo-piers. These deep foundation systems were required to support the building since the construction site is composed of clay and other unsuitable materials. A structural, framed-concrete foundation was constructed on top of the geo-pier matrix, followed by a traditional wood-framed structure.

Montana winters are tough, especially at the 6,000' elevation of the project in Big Sky. In spite of this burden, the work was planned and coordinated to continue without interruption. We were able to complete the exterior and site work in spring 2015.

The project was successfully completed August 2015 and immediately occupied with faculty, staff, and nearly 200 students.

The new Ophir Elementary School is just one in a long list of school projects that we are proud to have delivered. Each project brings its own set of experiences and we look forward to future opportunities to share our expertise on these unique projects.