BIDDEFORD — On Friday, members of the Biddeford High School chorus were excited as they moved items from their old quarters to their new home, in a newly completed portion of the building.

They were excited not only because it was the last day of school before vacation, but also because it was the first time they got to see their new digs. The occupancy permit was granted only the day before.

When students return to school on April 25, the section that contains the band and choral area will be open to all students and staff. This is the first major section of the high school renovation that’s been finished since construction began in June 2010.

The renovation was approved by Biddeford residents when they voted in favor of a $34 million bond in November 2009.

“I think it’s just lovely, it’s fantastic,” said Superintendent of Schools Sarah-Jane Poli, who accompanied the media on a tour of the new section last week.

Vocal Music Director Gary Marcet, who is one of the first faculty members to benefit from the renovation, called the new music area “absolutely mind-blowing.”

“In 25 years (17 in Biddeford) its the first time I’ve worked in a brand new facility,” he said.

The new construction replaces a trestle bridge structure connecting two wings of the school.

Marcet said he knows he’ll be pleased with the new music area, because “from day one” both he and Band Director Pat Bolin were involved in every step of the process. Both had input in the designs on a day-to-day basis and were consulted on everything, said Marcet, from the type of cubicles to the number of shelves.

This new area includes two music rooms, said Ledgewood Construction Superintendent Steve Claffie. Ledgewood, based in South Portland, is the firm that was hired to renovate the school.

The music rooms contain sound absorbing Tectum panels on the ceiling and sound deadening systems in the walls and floors, said Claffie. The ceilings also have sound diffusing domes.

In addition to the large music rooms, the new section includes two practice rooms, two storage areas and offices for the music teachers.

The area has its own air handling unit, as air quality has been a major concern at the high school.

It is also the first area in school to include sprinklers for fire prevention, said Ledgewood Superintendent Ralph Morin. Existing smoke alarms were upgraded and additional alarms were added into the duct work.

As crews renovate each new section, said Morin, fire prevention equipment will be installed throughout the school.

The next major area of the renovation will be completed in May. It will be the only section of the high school open this summer but won’t be used by students until they return to school in the fall.

The groundbreaking for the two-story addition took place in June 2010, said Ledgewood Project Manager Scott Clark. That section includes a new secure main entryway and administrative offices on the first floor and a new library and media center on the second floor.

There will also be separate rooms for electrical and information technology wiring, so these items will no longer have to be stuffed into closets.

The first of three new elevators will be put to use in the addition, which is handicapped accessible.

New electrical and other utility systems have been installed. Finishing touches like painting, flooring and adding fixtures must be completed before moving in the furniture.

The first section of classrooms, connected to the new addition, are also being worked on. That whole area was gutted, said Clark, and only the concrete walls remained.

New aluminum windows, with energy efficient thermal units, replaced the energy wasting front window wall. New, insulated walls were added.

This classroom section, like all areas that have been completed or that will be renovated in the future, has new electrical, air exchange, heating and other utility systems.

Over the summer, said Clark, the construction company will take over the whole rest of the school. It will make a big push to get as much work done as possible before students return to school in September.

Ledgewood will continue to work on classrooms throughout the 2011-12 school year. The last sections ”“ the cafeteria and the Tiger Gym ”“ will be tackled in the summer of 2012. The whole project is scheduled for completion in August of that same year, he said.

Construction workers have had to make some adjustments to their schedule, said Clark. Because of concerns that construction dust was affecting the school’s air quality and negatively impacting students and staff, a second work shift was added.

However, construction hasn’t slowed down.

The new music addition was completed “to the day” of the schedule, said Claffie.

Poli said she’s proud to be at the helm of the School Department as the BHS renovation takes place. Maintaining the schools has been one of her major concerns as superintendent.

“The students and staff are appreciative” of residents who supported the renovation bond, she said.

The money has been well spent, said Poli, and when the community sees the end result, “I think the people of Biddeford will be proud.”

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.