LINDEN - A burgeoning school population has brought about the construction of a new Linden Middle School, which is being built by construction manager Barton Malow and building trades workers.

This is the third Genesee County community we have featured in recent issues that is currently enjoying a boom in school construction.

"This is a pretty normal, straightforward school," said Barton Malow Project Manager Doug Madden. "We haven't had any issues at all with the quality of work from the trades, and the subs have been good to work with, too."

Nearly 100 trades people worked on the project at peak employment.

The keys to the new school are expected to be handed over to the school district in June 2006 after what is expected to be a 26-month project. The project was slowed because of some sewer design issues that needed to be worked out with the municipality.

The school population is expected to be about 600 students in the single-level, 130,000 square-foot building.

The new 6-8 grade middle school is being built as part of a $36.1 million bond issue approved by voters in the Linden Community School District. Barton Malow and the trades have also worked on renovations/additions to the district's two elementary schools and high school.

The work will add more space to the elementary schools -where portable classrooms are currently being used - and the existing middle school will be converted into an elementary school.

LOOKING OVER PLANS for the cafeteria/gymnasium at the new Linden Middle School are (l-r) Todd Crane and foreman Jim Wooster of IBEW 948 and Ranck Electric.