Interstate Restoration is putting the final touches on a $2 million makeover of the Quincy High School in Washington State in time for the Aug. 30 start of the new school year.

Interstate Restoration is a national, emergency-restoration general contractor that specializes in repairing commercial property.

The Quincy School District originally allotted $2 million to renovate and convert the 130,000-square-foot building into a junior high school for the 2019-2020 school year. Meanwhile, the building will continue to serve as the high school until the Quincy School District builds a new high school, due to open in a year. At that time, this building at 16^th Sixth Ave. SE will become a junior high, serving grades 6 through 8.

Interstate Restoration began the work immediately after the last day of the 2017-18 school year in June, determined to meet an ambitious timeline that required completion within a limited timeframe.

Interstate Restoration’s scope included replacing more than 32,000 square feet of floor tiles, painting the interior and exterior, redesigning the science laboratory, and installing new security doors at all entrances.

“We gave Interstate Restoration a significant challenge with the amount of work that we asked of them, within the required timeframe,” said Tom Harris, facilities director for Quincy School District. “They met that challenge and delivered quality service. We think our high school students will have an improved environment that will be particularly conducive to learning ... all just in time to kick-off the start of a new school year.”

Regional Director Scott Gilliland of Interstate Restoration said projects of this type are particularly rewarding because of the opportunity to apply a wide variety of construction skills in an existing building. Also, he said, it’s motivating to know the true beneficiaries are the young students in the area.

“We had to work nights and weekends, and we had to fast-track the ordering of materials, and we’re pleased we completed our scope of work in time for school to start,” Gilliland said. “A key to the success of this project included careful workforce scheduling and consistent, transparent communications the entire way.”

Some additional work by other contractors will continue this fall, and Interstate Restoration has helped make accommodations to avoid interruption to students and faculty.

“The doors are open, and school will be in full swing,” added Gilliland.