FARMINGTON — A $64 million renovation and addition to Mt. Blue High School and Foster Career and Technology Education Center is about 40 percent finished, a school official said during a tour Tuesday.

The new high school gym opened March 12 and has been used for physical education classes, student assemblies and Winter Carnival.

It’s the same size as it was, but the orientation has changed, said David Leavitt, RSU 9 director of support services. The main court faces the opposite direction, allowing more room between the end of the court and the walls.

The bleachers are on three sides of the gym and are handicapped-accessible. A wheelchair-user can back into a spot to watch a game.

The seating capacity is about 950, down from 1,200 previously.

“It’s all new,” Mt. Blue Principal Monique Poulin said as she and Leavitt showed off the new team locker rooms. The ceilings are higher and there is a window to let in more natural light, Leavitt said. Coaches can now watch through the office window to see what is going on in the locker room.

Connected to it are new showers and bathrooms. The facilities are handicapped-accessible. There are also new locker rooms for physical education classes.

The kitchen is equipped with commercial appliances, a classroom and a dining area for the culinary arts program. A food court will be built to replace the cafeteria. And a greenhouse will be built.

Among the alternative-energy methods will be geothermal heating and cooling and a wood-chip boiler, Poulin said. “It is all highly energy efficient.”

Classrooms include a mix of academic, career and technical courses. There will be no dedicated space, Leavitt said.

“They will be shared classrooms,” Poulin said. “We are fortunate we are able to provide this opportunity for our students.”

A faculty room has eight desks for staff to use as preparation stations. All are semiprivate with bookshelves and locked drawers.

Nearby is the school-to-work program, which will allow students to train and learn entry-level skills, teacher Denis Correll said.

A corridor named Main Street will go from one end of the building to the other.

General contractor Wright-Ryan of Portland kept the project moving through the winter due to mild weather conditions, Leavitt said.

“I think the good weather has helped them get back on track,“ he said.

The project was delayed when trusses in the new gym collapsed during demolition being done as part of the project.

The food court, library and presentation forum should be finished by the beginning of the next school year. The auditorium, cafeteria and music room are expected to be done by July 1. The entire project is expected to be completed by the start of school in 2013, Leavitt said.

The current three-story academic wing will be renovated once the other areas are approved for occupancy.

The building will be 220,000 square feet when finished, 60,000 square feet larger than now, Leavitt said. The bulk of the cost is being paid by the state, with local taxpayers contributing $4 million.

“Once it comes together in the end, it will be beautiful,” Poulin said.

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