Showcase Projects
Dynalectric Plays Leading Role In Completing Dublin School's Performing Arts Center

If Oscar awards were handed out for high-end construction projects in Central Ohio, Dublin City Schools would win the coveted award for its state-of- the-art performing arts center, and Dynalectric would be a sure bet for best supporting contractor.

Dublin’s new, 22,000-square-foot performing arts facility was built at Scioto High School; construction was completed in February 1999. But the $5 million project did not come off without a hitch: It required a last-minute cast member change to ensure that all work was completed in time for the first curtain call in March.

With the construction project well underway, general contractor, Ruscilli Construction, realized that the electrical portion of the contract was falling far behind schedule. Dynalectric was called in to assess the situation and formulate a plan to get the project back on schedule. Dynalectric did just that. "I called Gene Belew, a fellow Chamber of Commerce member, and he sent in Jim Clark," said Chris Mohr, Treasurer and Director of Business Affairs for Dublin City Schools. Clark came in and estimated the time and manpower it would take to complete the job. "When Dynalectric took over the job in December, the electrical work was five months behind schedule. By January, they had closed the gap and put the electrical component of the job back on track," Mohr added.

"Dynalectric didn’t just send us bodies; they sent their best electricians. They came in, got the job done right, and kept me apprised of its status every step of the way," Mohr remarked. "There was a high level of comfort in working with Dynalectric," he said. "That comfort is critical in a come-from-behind situation like this."

Dynalectric was responsible for wiring all lighting for the center, including house lights, as well as the complex auditorium and stage lighting packages. This involved the installation of dimmer switches; wiring the panel in the control booth; running all sound wiring for the auditorium and adjacent areas; connecting TV cables for the voice and video system; running and connecting the fire alarm wiring with that in the existing school building; and coordinating all exterior lighting.

"The biggest challenge that we faced with this project was figuring out the systems that were already in place in the new building, and then working from there to coordinate our work with other contractors," said Jim Clark, Dynalectric superintendent. "With the electrical portion behind schedule, other trades were falling behind because they needed certain components completed before they could move on," he explained. "It was an interesting job to come in midway through the contract. But the bottom line is that we made a commitment to Dublin. It was our job to take the ball and run with it," Clark remarked. "To do that, we relied on the strong leadership of foreman Mark Collier, backed by a talented and dedicated team of electricians," he added.

"From the very beginning of this project, Dynalectric understood the urgency of our situation," Mohr recalled. "We had a performance scheduled for March. We met that deadline for the kids. In many respects, Dynalectric saved the show."

Back to top