Bethlehem Area School Board directors already know which firms they will consider to tackle the new Nitschmann MS design and construction project.

Seven local firms have been chosen as the semi-finalist candidates. According to Mark Stein, facilities director for BASD, these firms were chosen because they are local and because they have extensive experience in school construction.

The school board already sent to the firms the documents containing information about the school project, instructions, expectations and requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to be considered for the bidding process.

Stein says that from this pool of architecture firms, up to three finalists will be selected and invited to participate in a public interview with the board so that they demonstrate why they are the best fit for the job. The public interview is expected to take place Aug. 19.

By Sept. 9, the school board should decide which architecture firm to recommend for the job.

The following companies have been invited to submit their proposals to the school board: Architecture Furst of Bethlehem; The Architectural Studio of Allentown; Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects of Allentown; KCBA Architects of Hatfield; MKSD Architects of Allentown; Spillman Farmer Architects of Bethlehem; and USA Architects of Easton.