FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Construction has begun on the new Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

With a completion date slated for July 2021, the 54,000-square-foot space will occupy the top floor of the Alvin Sherman Library on the NSU campus.

Professionals involved in the project include ACAI Associates, architecture; P2 Interiors, space planning and design; Sharpe Project Developments, project management; and JWR Construction Solutions, construction—all in collaboration with NSU’s Office of Facilities Management. The project cost is not being disclosed at this time.

The space will be an economic development engine designed to serve the community resulting in a breakthrough ideation, new technologies, job creation, talent skills pipeline, company formation, and scaling of early stage and young startup companies.

“Broward’s businesses, large and small, have great vision and intellectual capacity to build on the rapidly changing landscape around the world,” said Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry, in a statement.

The Center is an economic development engine focused on three themes (Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship) and four pillars (Ideate, Incubate, Accelerate and Post-accelerate).

A comprehensive list of customized programs, events, and wraparound services will act as a catalyst for the region’s innovation ecosystem by attracting new enterprise and providing opportunities for new skills, upskilling, and reskilling.

Highlights of the facility include glass walls to create an open concept, state-of -the-art technology, including Skyfold technology walls, as well as a commercial-grade catering kitchen for event and food-focused entrepreneurs. A key differentiator will be the addition of a purpose-built cybersecurity training range outfitted with a leading-edge technology platform providing instruction opportunities for the NSU community, industry, and potential government partners.

In addition, the Center will offer incubator and accelerator programs for early-stage and young-startup companies; mentoring opportunities; a technology-focused makerspace; a virtual community platform; a showcase and pitch area; technology and innovation skills classes, and more.

“This facility is the missing piece that will push South Florida forward as an innovation ecosystem,” said Keith Koenig, CEO of City Furniture, Chair of the Broward Workshop, and member of the Levan Center’s Board of Governors, in a statement.

“To have a central location in Broward County where entrepreneurs have the resources and support to create, grow and expand their business will help advance our local economy.”

Added Broward County Mayor Steve Geller, in a statement, “My highest priority as mayor is to bring high paying jobs to Broward County. The new Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation will help to provide the infrastructure to accelerate job growth, particularly in high-tech industries and other careers that require high levels of training and skill.”

The post Nova Southeastern Starts Build on Center of Innovation appeared first on School Construction News.

LEE COUNTY, Fla.—With a completion date slated for 2021, construction continues on the new $98 million Gateway High School in Lee County, Fla.

Rapid growth in one area of Lee County was the main reason for a larger school. Spanning 300,000 square feet, Gateway High School will have three stories of classrooms for approximately 2,000 students.

“We need the seats for students that live in the east zone, so we are building them as fast as we can,” said Rob Spicker, spokesperson for the School District of Lee County, in a statement.

There will be three main buildings, with the largest being devoted to the classrooms, plus the gymnasium, cafeteria, and an auditorium. The project will also include an array of athletic fields and specialty learning centers such as a veterinary clinic, cyber security training and carpentry academy. There will also be a black box theater.

Gateway High School is the first Lee County School built during the pandemic through COVID-conscious construction practices such as touchless water fountains, bottle filters and used easy-to-clean surfaces during construction.

This new high school is ushering in a new era of school build-outs that, by 2023, will grow the Lee County school district to a level not seen since the early 2000s.

“It’s awesome,” said Kathie Ebaugh, executive director of facility planning and development, in a statement,

“We’re in a major growth period in Lee County, and we are here to provide for the educational needs for our community so we’re building schools and we’re renovating schools.”

Suffolk Construction is the general contractor on this impressive project. BSSW Architects Inc. is the architecture firm.

The post $98 Million Florida High School on Target for 2021 Opening appeared first on School Construction News.

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — May 26, 2020 — A substantial $18.1-million modernization of Tarpon Springs High School in Pinellas County, Fla., was completed recently by JE Dunn Construction, the project’s construction manager.

Improvements ran the gamut from resolving drainage problems and demolishing multiple buildings, to upgrading interior systems throughout campus facilities and constructing a 12,261-square-foot building to serve as the new home for Tarpon Springs High School’s widely acclaimed Leadership Conservatory for the Arts; JE Dunn’s work scope covered more than a dozen structures and numerous site upgrades.

Renovations and improvements included complete acoustical upgrades in the auditorium, along with replacement of flooring and carpet, painting, new doors and hardware sets, canopy installations, new plumbing systems, improved acoustics, updated electrical power sources, new walls and ceilings, and more-efficient HVAC systems.

Site improvements included courtyards and outdoor classrooms, new landscaping and sidewalks, storm water utility upgrades including improved storm water detention, and modified parking and drive lanes.

The project architect of record was Rowe Architects of Tampa.

JE Dunn Construction, founded in 1924, is one of the largest general building contractors in the United States, providing construction management services through 23 offices nationwide, and self-perform services in select locations. The company has performed work in Florida since 1989, and re-established a Florida office in 2015, in Tampa.

Rowe Architects Incorporated is a nationally known architectural design firm that evolved from the practice founded in 1965 by the late H. Dean Rowe, FAIA. The firm has an award-winning history of providing quality professional architectural services on educational, institutional, commercial, multi-use and historic preservation projects throughout Florida.

The post Florida High School Wraps Major Modernization appeared first on School Construction News.

BOCA RATON, Fla. ­— Lynn University’s loft-style campus apartments recently achieved LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Lynn University’s Mary and Harold Perper Residence Hall recently received LEED Silver certification for its accomplishments in energy consumption, water efficiency, and other green initiatives. Lynn University’s student body included 2,232 undergrads, 791 graduate and 70 doctoral students as of fall 2018. The 60,000-square-foot development is part of Lynn University’s campus masterplan.

Designed by Gensler, the residence hall opened in August 2017 and includes loft-style apartments for 170 upperclassmen students, as well as a courtyard, two patios, a fire pit and grills. A community space has a TV lounge, collaboration room and full kitchen where students can relax, study and socialize together.

USGBC awards certifications based on points applicants earn across several categories. Perper Residence Hall earned LEED Silver for:

• Water efficiency: The campus taps into an IRIS Loop, a non-potable water source, which allows it to use reclaimed (recycled) water for the irrigation system. Additionally, water-efficient faucets, toilets and showerheads utilize 40.34 percent less water than similar buildings.
• Sustainable site: Forty-four percent of the site is dedicated to vegetated open space, an exemplary accomplishment, according to LEED rating systems. It is also made up of drought-tolerant native plants, including sabal palms, a thatch palm and a live oak tree in the courtyard.
• Energy and atmosphere: The building uses 33.77 percent less energy than a code-compliant baseline.
• Indoor environmental quality: Low-emitting paints, adhesives and flooring products provide enhanced indoor air quality. All installed carpet is certified by the CRI Green Label Plus program. Additionally, over 90 percent of indoor spaces have a nature view.
• Materials and resources: Over 20 percent of project materials are composed of recycled content, and over 75 percent of construction waste was recycled. In addition, more than 50 percent of the structure’s wood was harvested from a responsibly managed forest.

The post Lynn University Residence Hall earns LEED Silver certification appeared first on School Construction News.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The new Center for Accelerated Training (CAT) facility at Valencia College’s Kissimmee campus offers students access to accelerated skills training programs and nationally recognized industry certifications in Osceola County. Designed by DLR Group, the 14,700-square-foot center houses short-term training courses to support local workforce needs. This is the third CAT facility to open at Valencia College; DLR Group designed the original CAT prototype facility, which opened on the Poinciana Campus in 2017.

Sanford, Fla.-based Wharton-Smith, Inc. Construction Group served as the general contractor for the project.

The new facility consists of 10 classrooms, a computer lab for instruction and hands-on activities, and a large bay area for skills training. Programs include technical training for apartment maintenance, carpentry, clinical medical assisting, core construction, heavy construction equipment, roofing, transportation logistics, and warehouse packaging.

“DLR Group is excited to continue our partnership with Valencia College and to deliver beautiful and functional facilities that meet the educational needs of its students,” said DLR Group Principal Nicole Nichols, AIA. “The new CAT facility is designed with a mix of labs, classrooms, and breakout spaces, allowing students to master skillsets necessary to immediately enter the workforce.”

In addition to preparing workers for high-demand careers, the $4.5 million facility also features classrooms to house Valencia’s English programs for non-native speakers, as well as conversational Spanish and Portuguese classes.

“We’re very excited to provide the Osceola County community with a space where students can pursue careers that might lead to higher wage employment,” said Joe Battista, vice president of Global, Professional, and Continuing Education at Valencia College. “These programs provide the adult student an alternative way to attend college in an intensive six to 20 weeks of education and training.”

The CAT facility will neighbor a new Careers in Industry and Technology (CIT) building, which is scheduled to open by January 2020.

The CIT building will be a 36,000-square foot building that will provide space for bringing Valencia’s engineering technology classes to the Osceola Campus. The building will also house classes for criminal justice technology, hospitality and tourism management and a new degree in residential property management. The five Associate in Science degree programs enable Osceola County students to earn two-year, workforce-oriented degrees without traveling to Valencia’s other campuses in Orlando.

The CIT building will also house classrooms, administrative offices and one small mock apartment unit for the college’s hospitality program.

The CIT building will also be home to Valencia’s mechatronics program, which is a short-term job training program currently housed at Valencia’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Kissimmee. Mechatronics technicians learn skills from electrical, technical and computer technologies to enable graduates to troubleshoot mechanical systems in everything from ATMs to assembly lines to computerized theme park rides.

“These short-term training programs and specialized workforce degree programs have never been more important,” said Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia’s Osceola, Lake Nona and Poinciana campuses. “Not all jobs require a bachelor’s degree; not all jobs require even an associate’s degree, but essentially all jobs now require some education after high school.”

The $13 million CIT facility will also provide short-term training for service technicians.

The post New Advanced Training Facility Opens at Valencia College appeared first on School Construction News.

Designed to serve as a true community asset, the new facility will create opportunities for children and students to learn and develop their skills for the future. The youth recreation facility is designed with a variety of spaces, including a health and lifestyles room, youth/teen game room, teen career educational center, technology center, gymnasium/multi-purpose room with stage, art and music labs, art gallery, dance studio, reading areas, and a full demonstration/learning kitchen. The project is being supported through a donation of up to $4 million by Clarence Otis, former CEO of Darden, and his wife, Jacqueline Bradley, a Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida board member for more than 20 years.

The site is located in one of the area’s oldest residential neighborhoods, just west of downtown Orlando, and will be part of a new community hub associated with the adjacent elementary school, an Early Childhood Learning Center and a Wellness Hub. To create a visual connection to the outdoors, the building is designed with open glass throughout, along with balconies and terraces. With construction set to begin in May 2019 and completion slated for April 2020, the facility will be built on land leased from Orange County Public Schools. The facility will also serve as Orange Center Elementary School’s gymnasium. Brasfield & Gorrie, of Winter Park, Fla., will serve as construction manager for the project.

In addition, SchenkelShultz Architecture also designed the new $2.3 million, 12,665-square-foot expansion of the Joe R. Lee Branch Boys & Girls Club in Eatonville, which is scheduled to begin construction this month. Located at 400 Ruffel Street, the new addition will more than double the size of the existing 9,500-square-foot facility designed by the firm. When completed in October 2019, the Eatonville branch improvements will include a dedicated teen center, new technology labs, digital arts lab, dance-aerobics studio and more. The Eatonville branch is named in honor of retired Darden CEO Joe R. Lee. Aagaard-Juergensen LLC, Orlando, serves as construction manager for the Eatonville project, as it did for the original facility which opened in 2011.

The design of both the new West Lakes facility and the expanding Eatonville branch align with the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

The post SchenkelShultz Designs School-Associated Boys & Girls Club in Orlando appeared first on School Construction News.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Locally based Williams Company Building Division began the Orange County (Fla.) Public Schools’ $28.5 million renovation to Boone High School in Orlando.

Williams Company Building Division is serving as general contractor for the $28.5 million Boone High School Capital Renewal and renovation project now underway.

The Capital Renewal portion of the project will lengthen the life of the school buildings, and the replacement of the auditorium will update that component of the Boone campus similar to auditoriums recently constructed on other Orange County (Fla.) Public Schools’ High School campuses. Bob Lipscomb, CEO of Williams Company, explained that the one challenge working on the Boone project(s) thus far has been the limited access due to the size of the property, and the close proximity to adjacent occupied buildings and houses.

The Capital Renewal project at Boone includes the demolition of the standing auditorium, which will be replaced by a new $11.5 million auditorium, as well as a refurbishment and expansion of the existing cafeteria, and replacing building components that are beyond their useful life in different school buildings. These replacements include new roofing and HVAC systems as well as a newly installed campus-wide fire alarm system.

The project will operate under six separate phases, with Phase I including constructing a new stormwater exfiltration system and Phase II involving the demolition and replacement of the new auditorium building as well as a track and baseball field renovation. Phase III consists of the construction of new gymnasium and Business/Law Magnet building, with Phase IV continuing construction on the auditorium and gym along with capital renewal work beginning on two buildings. Phase V and VI will be the beginning and end of construction on the new cafeteria.

“One unique aspect about the work we are doing at Boone High School is that we are actually orchestrating several smaller projects while operating and managing them as one large project,” said Lipscomb. “When we leave the Boone campus, we will have completed the Capital Renewal work, the auditorium replacement, gymnasium replacement, emergency generator and cafeteria renovation projects.”

The project broke ground in 2018 and is expected for completion in 2020.

The post Williams Company Begins Major Renovation of Florida High School appeared first on School Construction News.

The new replacement school has two phases of construction and will be built on the current campus while the existing school continues to operate. The first phase includes a two-story classroom building, a “cafetorium,” media center and administration building. The second phase of construction will commence upon occupancy of Phase I and will include a second classroom building and physical education pavilion. Upon completion, the school’s courtyard will include an elevated concrete platform for alfresco performances, and the art room will have an outside patio facing the courtyard. The second grade’s classroom gardens will be outside their classroom building in the courtyard area.

The design of the new school echoes some of the hottest trends for a 21st century facility incorporating collaborative learning areas, safety and security features, and technology throughout the school — and the design process was actually influenced by students, parents, faculty, staff and the community.

“This is such an exciting time for the New Smyrna Beach community,” said Chisholm Elementary School’s Principal Craig Zablo. “Our new school will be a state-of-the-art facility that will be able to accommodate 750 students, the design will reflect the beauty and sensibilities of life in New Smyrna Beach, and it will be a great resource for our community.”

Several architectural elements will provide a nod to the school’s history and New Smyrna Beach’s location on the Florida coast. The school’s front exterior will feature an ocean wave and use coastal colors, a nod to the entry feature signs on US 1 and SR 44 in New Smyrna Beach. The reception area will include a display meant to showcase the heritage of the historic Westside neighborhood and Chisholm School, which was once the designated high school for the black community.

In tribute to the significance of the arts in Volusia County’s schools as well as the prominent role of the arts in New Smyrna Beach, two wall murals will also be displayed in the front reception area to showcase local artists and the school’s art teacher, Steve Hardock.

The new school will be larger than the current school and be able to accommodate a minimum of 750 students. It will be the second to be built with funds from the half-cent sales tax extension. The first one being built is a replacement school for Pierson Elementary that will open August 2018.

Chisholm Elementary will be located at on a 24-acre site and the facilities will take up 94,000 square feet of space. Designed by Rhodes + Brito Architects and built by H.J. High Construction — both companies based in Orlando — the new school has a targeted opening date of August 2019.

The post Design of New Florida Elementary School Reflects Locale appeared first on School Construction News.

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — JE Dunn Construction’s Tampa, Fla., office is transforming a 57-year-old career and technical education center into the first full-time technical high school for Pinellas County Schools in Florida.

The $13.2 million project at Pinellas Technical High School at Seminole involves the construction of a 34,335-square-foot, two-story building, with classrooms, administrative offices and kitchen and cafeteria areas. It also includes renovating 26,250 square feet of standing classroom and administration buildings as well as making site improvements to the 42-acre campus.

Pinellas Technical High School (Tech High) is for students interested in a challenging high school experience that will prepare them for a career and college, according to the school’s website. Students at Tech High participate in hands-on activities and collaborate on meaningful projects that train them to be critical thinkers and problem solvers.

As a result of this project, Tech High will better facilitate enrollment growth with its new schedule of full-day classes, with a curriculum that includes the full spectrum of courses needed to graduate from high school as well as honors and advanced placement classes. The school’s technical offerings will cover building trades and construction design technology, commercial and digital arts, electricity, nursing, veterinary assisting, and game or simulation programming.

The new facility, which will be replacing the Career Academies of Seminole, is expected to open August 2018.

The post JE Dunn Begins Construction of Florida’s First Full-Time Tech High School appeared first on School Construction News.

The Lake County district, which serves approximately 42,000 students across 51 learning sites, needed to align with the recently passed requirement to permit students to apply to any public school throughout the state. Though the expanded school choice is a boon to families, it can be a burden to districts managing outdated enrollment and records systems.

“We knew it was important to invest in a simplified, scalable solution from an experienced technology provider to help our families navigate the state’s expanded school choice process,” said Julie Summerlin, supervisor of Choice, Charter and Community Education of Lake County Schools, in a statement. “SchoolMint’s flexibility in allowing us to configure lotteries and preferences as required by the state law, as well as the company’s overall expertise in the field, made them the right partner for our district.”

Since its founding in 2013, close to 6,000 schools have chosen SchoolMint to facilitate myriad aspects of student enrollment — from registration management to application, lottery oversight and even the management of digital forms and related uploadable documents. Lake County joins districts such as Boston Public Schools, Camden City School District, Chicago Public Schools, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Denver Public Schools, Oakland Unified School District and Spring Branch Independent School District in implementing the system.

According to a TechCrunch article, in early 2016 SchoolMint raised $5.6 million in a round of funding that boasted a gallery of education- and government-focused investors. Among them was institutional investors Maiden Lane Ventures and CSC Upshot (one of China’s top three private equity firms, with $14 billion under management, according to Crunchbase).

When using such systems, school districts may increase family engagement, improve operational efficiency and obtain greater analytic and planning insights through the platform’s reporting tools. Also, there’s an app for that.

“As an increasing number of districts across the country are expanding choice and school options for their families, we are honored that more school systems, like Lake County, are looking to SchoolMint for our expertise in school choice,“ said Jinal Jhaveri, founder and CEO of SchoolMint, in a statement. “SchoolMint offers the system and the tools to make the school choice application process transparent, equitable and more accessible for families. And we are encouraged by the interest we are seeing among Florida’s school districts, given the state’s unique school choice requirements.”

Presently, the company has little in the way of competition since it’s only competitor, Infosnap, was acquired by PowerSchool, another K-12 education technology provider, narrowing the field as it addresses the state’s unique choice requirements.

The post Florida’s Lake County Schools Partners with SchoolMint to Help Align with New Legislation appeared first on School Construction News.