Phase 1 of KLA Opens

July was a busy month at the KLA.  The contractor was completing construction on Phase 1 with the July 30th grand opening quickly approaching.   Phase 1 was dedicated and opened at a ceremony that included local and national dignitaries, supporters, Global Neighbors representatives, the KLA school board and the families of Mitrovica.  The school's director and staff welcomed everyone as they walked through what will be their new home when school starts in August.

The next step is to complete fund raising for phase two.  A little over $1million is still needed to begin phase two which will includes the shell of the three-story classroom wing and completely building out the ground floor and second level.  Depending on when construction begins this phase could be completed in as little as 10 months.  A final finishing phase would then follow completing the build out of the top floor of the classroom wing and the construction of athletic fields on the KLA campus.

We want to thank everyone who was a part of reaching the completion of Phase 1 including supporters, the teachers and administrators, Global Neighbors, the school's board, the local and national government leaders in Kosovo, the contractor and many others.  So many gave so much to make this dream become a reality.  To God be the glory for what is happening through this school.

 KLA - Front

 Lobby

 

 Reception & Administration

 Gymnasium

 Math Classroom

 Main Hall

 Guests waiting for the grand opening

 

 KLA's student body president thanks everyone

 

 Director Nadine opening the KLA!

 Guest eagerly waiting to tour the school

 Guest enjoying refreshments in the Multipurpose Room

 

 Kids trying the climbing wall in the lobby

(a few adults tried this out too)

 

 The KLA Team

There's room for more!

 

KLA - Phase 1 is open and ready for students!

It's time to prepare for Phase 2!

2016_06-12 - KLA Construction Progress

Construction on Phase 1 continues to move towards a July completion.  There are many small details that are being completed in preparation of the teachers moving into the building.  The KLA team will use Phase 1 with some temporary partitions for the 2016-2017 school year.  We hope to begin construction on Phase 2 in 2017 once the necessary funds have been provided.

Building Front - sidewalk and service drive being installed

 Building Entrance - landscape and lawn area

 Gymnasium - ready for flooring

Multi-purpose room - ready for flooring and finishing touches

2016_04-07 - 2016_05-06 - KLA Construction Progress

The work continues at the KLA construction site.  The contractors are busy plastering, painting, tiling, wiring, HVAC installation and many other things as they move towards the completion of Phase 1 by June 30th.  We are about 80% of the way to completion and there is still a lot of finishing work to be done.  Just begin to imagine the gym full of students playing sports together or the multipurpose room filled with classes of kids working on their lessons.

 Gymnasium being prepared for flooring

 Entrance Lobby

 Multi-Purpose Room

 Gymnasium Exterior - Front

  Gymnasium Exterior -Rear

Locker Room tiling

2016_03-18 - 2016_04-07 - KLA Construction Progress

Work continues to roll along in Kosovo.  The contractor is on schedule for a mid-summer completion of Phase 1 of work.  Exterior plaster and painting continues.  Interior wall finishing continues along with leveling of the floors and the start of electrical and mechanical equipment installation.  The building is really beginning to look a lot like a school!

 Gymnasium Wing - Front

 Gymnasium Wing - Rear

 

Heating System Installation in Administration Wing

 Plastering the Ceiling

2016_02-28 - 2016_03-17 - KLA Construction Progress

The beautiful spring weather continues and the contractors are taking full advantage of it!  Work on the exterior is ongoing and the floor leveling and preparation continues on the inside.  There have been days with as many as 40 plus workers on site.

 Rear of Entry Hall - this is where Phase 2 will connect with the Core and Classroom Wing

 Gymnasium & Entry Hall

 Floor leveling and prep work in the Gymnasium - Notice the amount of natural light!

Exterior work on the Gymnasium Wing

2016_02-03 - 2016_02-27 - KLA Construction Progress

The weather in Kosovo is changing from winter to spring.  The welcomed warm weather has brought the contractor back to the project site to complete installing the insulated roof panels and windows making the building weather tight.  Work has also resumed with the installation of electrical, technology, plumbing and heating systems.  The construction team is preparing to begin the exterior insulation finishing system (insulated stucco system).  It is exciting to see the continued progress and the team on track for a July completion of Phase 1.

 We have a covered gymnasium

 Electrical & Plumbing is installed in clay brick by

channeling the brick, installing and plastering over the channel.

 Roofing installation on the entry hall.

 It's beginning to look a lot like a school.

Scaffolding being erected on the gymnasium wing to prepare for

construction of the exterior finishing system.

2016_02-02 - KLA Construction Progress

It seems that winter has broken in Kosovo and construction on the Leadership Academy is once again getting underway.  The contractor began working on installing insulated roof panels and doing some work in preparation for electrical and plumbing work.