Merced's newest campus is on budget, schedule, officials say.

The towering framework of what will be a two-story library and classroom complex faces G Street, a hint of the $87 million high school scheduled to open in less than two years.

Michael Belluomini, director of facilities planning for the Merced Union High School District, said El Capitan High School is roughly 25 percent complete. It's on budget and on schedule.

"It's going to be a beautiful school," Belluomini said. "The first $10 million in work was below the ground. There are 70 guys working on the job every day and the contractor is spending over 50 percent with local contractors."

Michael Conley, project manager for the main contractor, Bernards Builders, said at varying stages there will be 60 to 70 construction firms working on the new high school.

Conley was the project manager for the $170 million Mercy Medical Center completed last year just down the road from the school. He has worked on major construction projects in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties for 12 years.

"It's going very well; it's a very good project," Conley said. He said Bernards is making sure the end goal will be reached and schedule milestones are achieved.

Belluomini said the school is scheduled to be finished in June 2013 and open that August to 800 freshmen and sophomores. Juniors will be added the following year and seniors in the campus's third year.

There will be 12 to 13 acres of buildings on the 54-acre site. Ultimately, nine steel-framed buildings, most of them two-story, will be erected.

What's most visible now is a classroom wing and the library. An arched steel framework about 40 feet tall covers the building, not that far from traffic speeding by on G Street north of Bellevue Road.

Belluomini said the contractor found the best price for structural steel in Texas. The new school is being financed with $50 million of Measure M bond money approved in 2008, along with $37 million from a state matching grant.

Conley said there has been no lost time from on-the-job injuries and stringent safety practices are in place. Workers must wear fluorescent vests, hard hats and safety glasses. Inspectors visit the site every two to three weeks to make sure proper safety practices are being observed.

Paul Bunton, president and founder of San Jose-based BCA Architects, which designed the campus, said he's excited to see the project start to go vertical.

"It will be an incredible structure in Merced," Bunton said. "The project is coming along great, on time or slightly ahead of schedule."

Bunton said the new high school will be an incredible facility that will capture the 21st century learning environment and connect North Merced with UC Merced.

Belluomini said Merced High School now has 2,600 students and Golden Valley High School has 2,306 pupils. The district's ideal campus size is 2,000 students.

Most of the concrete pads and footings for the campus, except for the administration building, already are in place. Because of the flood plain, the campus will be built 4 feet above the surrounding grade.

Several miles of electrical conduit have been installed, along with several thousand feet of storm drain, sewer and water lines. Framing will start next week on a combination classroom and graphic arts building.

Belluomini said the city of Merced has issued the encroachment permit that will allow widening of G Street to four lanes with a middle turn lane.

Although Conley said there were no major environmental surprises early in the project, which began in June, workers discovered groundwater was closer to the surface than anticipated. Seepage from Fahrens Creek had to be addressed through storm drains.

Belluomini said $15 million has been spent so far on El Capitan High. There will be a football field and track, but no stadium bleachers or concession stands are planned because of budget constraints.

A performing arts theater will seat 400 people, and two gymnasiums are being built. One is a practice gym and the other is the competition gym, with seating for 1,600 spectators.

Reporter Doane Yawger can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or dyawger@mercedsunstar.com.

This story was originally published November 18, 2011 at 4:58 AM with the headline "Merced's newest campus is on budget, schedule, officials say.."