WADDELL, Ariz.—DLR Group, a firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design, recently received an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects for its design of Canyon View High School in Waddell.

This prestigious national award honors innovative designs that inspire learners, educators, administrators, and communities and enhance modern pedagogy.

Completed in 2018, Canyon View High School spans 237,120 square feet for its 2,000 students and consists of flexible teaching environments reinforced by digital platforms for learning.

“Canyon View High School is a special campus,” said DLR Group Senior Principal Pam Loeffelman, FAIA, in a statement.

“The design is the framework that allows the district to blur the lines between ages and abilities and to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind learning experience for students and educators. DLR Group is especially honored to be recognized by our peers for design excellence that positively impacts student success.”

During the award review process, jurors noted, “the project hits on equity, health, and accessibility. Every indoor-outdoor space is a place for socializing, movement, gathering, performing, and creating as a community of learners.”

DLR Group noted that in its design, ownership of the classroom is transferred to the collective school, allowing faculty to rotate through learning spaces weekly and affording students the ability to explore academic interests and curriculum. Prior to occupying the campus, DLR Group implemented its BOLD (Bridging Organization Learning and Design) service, which is a facility activation process. This change effort led to universal buy-in to a vision for the campus, resulting in a shift in teaching practices that align with the physical environment.

To achieve this, DLR Group’s design emphasizes spatial flexibility and sustainability as primary means of fulfilling the district’s goals.

The new $75.6 million high school offers the opportunity to strengthen relationships, foster multiple pedagogies for individualized learning opportunities, and nurtures a culture that is student-focused and faculty-guided. Classes have the flexibility to be held in spaces designed to suit the learning of the moment and adjust when necessary.

“The new facility enables innovation and measurable advancements in teaching and learning. These spaces allow teachers to advance their professional skills, and students to examine coursework more deeply to develop collaborative opportunity with peers globally,” said Dr. Dennis Runyan, superintendent, Agua Fria Union High School District, in a statement.

Chasse Building Team Inc. was the general contractor on this impressive project.

DLR Group and Canyon View High School have also received additional industry and educational accolades since the campus opened in 2018. Honors include the coveted James D. MacConnell Award by the Association for Learning Environments in 2019, and design and research awards through the AIA Arizona chapter.

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GILBERT, Ariz.—Construction is now complete on the new $23 million Robert J C Rice Elementary School in southwest Gilbert.

The new K-6 school—which can accommodate 800 students— has opened for the 2020-21 school year. The 93,000-square-foot building features a gym/multipurpose room, media center, computer lab learning center, classrooms, and administration space.

The new elementary school campus was built on an accelerated seven-month schedule on Ocotillo Road between Lindsay Road and Val Vista Drive near several new home communities and will help alleviate overcrowding at nearby elementary schools.

“This project had one of the most accelerated timelines for a new build school project that we’ve completed to date—just seven months— and we are proud to have completed it successfully, despite the turbulent times,” said Andrea Ramos, project director for McCarthy Building Companies, in a statement.

HDA Architects Inc. served as the architect. Major subcontractors included Sun Valley Masonry, Procon Concrete, R&N Electric, Irontree, and Midstate Mechanical.

The school has numerous energy-saving features such as:

• An air-cooled central plant;
• An energy Management system that allows HVAC and lighting to be controlled remotely via the internet;
• Sky lighting in hallways to eliminate use of lights, and;
• Ground and polished concrete floors in hallways and bathrooms, which are easier and less expensive to maintain.

“We are very proud to have been part of the team creating this special educational facility for the Chandler Unified School District community,” said HAD Architects Principal Bruce Scott.

“I appreciate the level of effort provided by our team, as well as McCarthy and district representatives, to meet the aggressive design and construction schedule especially during these challenging times.”

The school was named after long-time CUSD governing board member Robert Rice, who began his career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and spent more than two decades working for Intel in senior management roles. He is currently a member of the Arizona School Facilities Board.

Students who attended Weinberg Elementary last year—which has been turned into a school for gifted students beginning with the 2020/21 school year—will attend the new Robert J C Rice School. Like Weinberg, the school will offer both the Chandler Traditional Academies (CTA) education model as well as “classic” education. Parents will have a choice on the type of instruction their child will receive.

“We are fortunate to have the financial support of our community,” said CUSD Superintendent Camille Casteel, in a statement.

“Passage of a $290 million bond election in 2019 provided the funding to build Rice Elementary which will serve a fast-growing area of our community. We needed to fast track Rice Elementary to open for the start of the 2020-2021 school year and once again McCarthy was up to the challenge.”

The Chandler Unified School District used school bond funds approved in the 2019 election by voters to build the school.

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PHOENIX—The new Sierra Linda Performing Arts Center, a 24,000-square-foot facility located at Sierra Linda High School in Phoenix, is now complete.

As part of the Tolleson Union High School District, the $10.5 million center was designed for maximum functionality for students, educators, and audience members, accommodating more than 600 people. To serve area arts education programs and the broader community, the center is being used as a hands-on teaching space for the Sierra Linda High School’s performing arts/fine arts programs and is acoustically balanced for both amplified sound and live performances. Funding for the project was provided by school bond dollars.

The stage includes state-of-the-art LED lighting with automatic stage rigging and controls. The back of the house includes a dance classroom, a multi-purpose classroom for guitar, mariachi and piano lessons, as well as associated restrooms and make-up rooms. The design scheme utilizes mountains on the walls and a color palette that complements Sierra Linda’s school colors of navy and maroon.

“We are absolutely thrilled that our Sierra Linda students will finally have a state-of-the-art performing arts center to showcase their talents,” said Tolleson Union High School District Superintendent Nora Gutierrez, in a statement.

“It is long overdue. This community deserves a beautiful facility such as this one. The performing arts center is one that will serve the community for many years to come. We can’t wait for the wonderful performances and events that will take place in this wonderful facility.

McCarthy Building Companies was the general contractor on this impressive project that took nine months to complete. ADM Group served as the project architect.

“This project illustrates that creative design and construction solutions combined with smart budgeting can elevate a school theater beyond status quo to a professional quality theater for the entire community to enjoy,” said Mike Horn, project director for McCarthy’s Education Services team.

ADM Group completed the original high school campus design in 2010, which included plans for a future performing arts center.

“Our team is proud to have designed a premier performance arts venue that will elevate the rich, cultural fabric at Sierra Linda High School,” said Nina Sheriff, principal/director of Design with ADM Group, in a statement.

“To pay homage to a nearby historic canal, the landscape design features a levee with river rocks that flow to and from the theater’s entrance. To reflect the name of the school, ‘beautiful mountains’, the side walls of the auditorium were constructed in the shape of mountains with lighting to glow like the sunset. The long-awaited performing arts center honors the community’s roots and gives students a modern, high-tech space to showcase their talents.”

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PHOENIX, Ariz.—Construction has begun on Robert Rice Elementary School, Chandler Unified School District’s (CUSD) 32nd elementary school.

McCarthy Building Companies is the general contractor on this $23 million K-6 school that will accommodate 800 students when completed in June—in time for the school year to begin in July. CUSD is using school bond funds approved in the 2019 election by voters to build the school.

The 93,000-square-foot building will include a gym/multipurpose room, media center, classrooms and administration space. The new school is being built on an accelerated seven-month schedule on Ocotillo Road between Lindsay Road and Val Vista Drive in southwest Gilbert, Ariz.

HDA Architects Inc. is the architect on the project. Major subcontractors include Sun Valley Masonry, Procon Concrete, R&N Electric, Irontree and Midstate Mechanical.

The school will contain energy-saving features including an air-cooled central plant; an energy management system that allows HVAC and lighting to be controlled remotely via the Internet; sky lighting in hallways to eliminate use of lights; and ground and polished concrete floors in hallways and bathrooms, which are easier and less expensive to maintain.

The school is being named after Robert Rice, a long-time CUSD governing board member who began his career as a U.S. Air Force officer and spent more than two decades working for Intel in senior management roles. He is a member of the Arizona School Facilities Board.

Students who currently attend Weinberg Elementary—which is being turned into a school for gifted students next year—will attend the new Robert Rice Elementary School. Like Weinberg Elementary, the new school will offer both the Chandler Traditional Academies (CTA) education model, as well as “classic” education. The school will also implement a sustainability program.

“We are working hard to establish a neighborhood school that delivers strong instruction aligned to the Arizona standards and offers a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities for our students,” said CUSD Superintendent Camille Castille, in a statement.

“Rice Elementary will provide options for parents with respect to students’ instructional needs and foster parent and community involvement through partnerships with all school stakeholders.”

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PHOENIX, Ariz.—Construction has begun on the new Balsz School District’s Pat Tillman Middle School, a middle school bearing the name of one of Arizona’s and the nation’s most notable and revered American heroes.

Named after the decorated American hero, who left a successful professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country following 9/11, the nearly 70,000-square-foot middle will comprise 42 new classrooms, administrative offices, STEM learning flex space and two new laboratories to support student centered and authentic learning for students in the Balsz School District.

In addition, a new sports tunnel will be constructed, celebrating and connecting the sports fields to the school. Sitework will include the build-out of both sports and community fields with perimeter security that allows for safe and secure student and community access. The building also incorporates energy efficiency upgrades to allow the school to be more operationally efficient over time.

“Our vision for Pat Tillman Middle School is to create the finest learning environment in the Valley, one that truly honors the Tillman legacy,” said Dr. Jeffrey Smith, superintendent of the Balsz School District.

“Pat embodied everything it is that we want to instill in our students—bravery, patriotism, commitment, selflessness—and these fundamentals will very much be a part of the core culture at Tillman Middle School.”

Located at 4309 E. Belleview in Phoenix, the school offers a traditional academic curriculum with expansive elective, after-school and sports offerings. The school will remain open for the 2019-20 school year, while construction is underway, and continue to serve the current student population of approximately 720 students in grades 6 to 8.

The school’s robust elective offerings include an Elite Sports Training pathway, a STEM program focusing on coding, rocketry and robotics, and a Digital Arts program that exposes students to video production, multimedia design and computer graphics. Students at the school will also benefit from the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) initiative, which seeks to bridge the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged students and their peers.

Construction will be completed in time for the 2020 school year. Final construction completion, which includes all site work and miscellaneous upgrades to existing structures, is slated for October 2020.

DLR Group is providing integrated architecture and engineering services. McCarthy Building Companies is the general contractor and providing construction management services.

“It’s been a privilege to work with the Tillman school community on this major renovation of their school campus, which will enhance the educational and STEM learning experience for current and future students,” said Mike Horn, project director for the Education Services team at McCarthy.

“We look forward to bringing these highly-anticipated and significant changes to the campus over the next year and are particularly honored to be part of acknowledging Pat Tillman for his service to our country and his athletic achievements as the namesake of the school.”

Added Pam Loeffelman, FAIA, DLR Group, “We are honored to provide a new home for Tillman Middle School. The entire team of educators, administrators, architects, engineers, contractors, students and the community at large worked collaboratively to co-design a school that enables teachers and students to aspire to the Tillman spirit and embraces the community where it resides.”

Originally built and opened as Balsz Elementary School in 1964, the Tillman family granted Balsz School District permission to use the Tillman name in early 2018. The school, home of the Warriors, is located only a few blocks from Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium, where Tillman first made headlines on the football field.

Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004 at the age of 27.

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GLENDALE, Ariz.― McCarthy Building Companies recently broke ground on a new K-8 classroom building for Arroyo School in Glendale, Ariz.

The $16.2 million project for the Washington Elementary School District — which is being funded through a 2016 voter-approved bond election — will include 74,600 square feet of new facilities—classrooms, a gym, parking, drop-off area and playfields. Once the new classroom building is completed in July 2020, the remaining buildings will be demolished making way for the construction of new parking and play fields.

Originally built in 1974, Arroyo School serves approximately 600 students in grades K-8 and is a Title I school that offers high academics, free, full-day kindergarten, art, music, PE, gifted education, and an After-School Academy.

“The ceremonial groundbreaking was a great way to celebrate a dream that will soon become a reality,” says Arroyo School Principal Philip Liles.

Mike Horn is project director for the Education Services team at McCarthy.

“We’re honored to work with the Arroyo school community, which values education and being engaged in the renovation of their school campus,” he says. “We look forward to bringing big changes to the campus over the next school year while ensuring the students and staff do not have to endure any major construction-related disruptions.”

BWS Architects is the architect on this project. Established in 1992, Pre-K through 12, higher education, and community projects with an educational emphasis, such as libraries and museums, have historically formed the largest percentage of BWS Architects’ work over the past 27 years.

“We greatly appreciate our partnership with McCarthy Building Companies and the Washington Elementary School District as we bring our collective vision to life and create long-lasting pride for the Arroyo school community,” says BWS Design Principal Frank Slingerland.

“We believe in creating enriching learning environments where students and educators can discover and grow together.”

Adds Principal Liles, “Our students, staff and neighbors have been looking forward to our newly constructed school since the day our community passed the bond in November 2016. We’re excited for construction to begin, and we look forward to continuing the great learning that takes place every day at Arroyo in our new school in 2020!”

The award-winning Washington Elementary School District is Arizona’s largest elementary district, comprised of 32 schools, serving more than 23,000 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The WESD encompasses 44-square-miles of north-central Phoenix and east Glendale.

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YUMA, Ariz. — Yuma Union High School District students, staff, and community members recently gathered to celebrate the opening of the Kofa High School campus. DLR Group’s design transforms the once sprawling, unorganized site into a cohesive high school campus serving 2,000 students in grades 9-12.

The $12 million project was funded by a 2015 voter-approved bond passage. Arcadis served as project manager and McCarthy Building Companies served as general contractor.

According to Turner, an international construction services company, the two phases of the Kofa High School renovations project included 177,000 square feet of upgrades to the gymnasium, cafeteria, classrooms, bus and visitor/staff parking areas. Work also included enhancements to campus security and information technology resources.

The new campus features updated academic classrooms and labs with abundant technology, and flexible collaboration areas that allow students to work in small or large groups. The reimagined student hub now encompasses dining, socializing, and student services in a central location. The student hub has a new culinary arts classroom and restaurant providing enhanced dining options for students, educators, and community members. In addition, it also houses the campus bookstore, student-run store, and IT support center.

“The conversion of the original Kofa cafeteria into a new dynamic hub is one of the most dramatic changes in this renovation,” said DLR Group Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA. “Our design unifies the campus aesthetically and provides future-ready environments that celebrate academics, athletics, and the whole student experience.”

DLR Group’s design frames an active zone south of the student hub, creating synergies between career and technical education (CTE) courses such as personal training, athletics, nursing, physical education, and health classes. Spaces in the active zone serve dual purposes: the wrestling room is also used for police take-down training, the strength training area is utilized by students enrolled in the physical therapy certification program, and the nursing program shares spaces with the EMT certification program.

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PHOENIX — Creighton University has reached an agreement on the construction of a new, nearly $100 million health sciences campus at Park Central in midtown Phoenix, a significant expansion of the university’s current presence in the state.

The project will be broken into two phases, with phase one to include a new 200,000-square-foot building that will eventually house nearly 800 Creighton health sciences students in Arizona.

The expansion will include a four-year medical school, nursing school, occupational and physical therapy schools, pharmacy school, physician assistant school and emergency medical services program. A second building adjacent to the first may be added in the future.

The new building will be located along Central Avenue on the Park Central property, on land that is currently a parking lot. Construction on the new building will begin in spring 2019, the first on the Park Central site in decades, and is expected to be completed in spring 2021.

Creighton’s new Phoenix campus will meet the University’s current needs while providing ample room for expansion in the future, and the central Phoenix location makes it convenient for students doing their residencies and other studies at nearby hospitals.

“Creighton University is preparing for an exciting new era in Phoenix, one that combines our tradition for educational excellence in the health sciences with our distinctive Jesuit, Catholic mission,” said the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, president of Creighton University. “Creighton University has strong connections to the Arizona medical community, and we look forward to expanding our impact by educating many more exceptionally qualified health care professionals to serve the community moving forward.”

The new Creighton University facility is also a significant boost for the revitalization of Park Central. Sharon Harper, president & CEO of Plaza Companies that is redeveloping Park Central in partnership with Holualoa Companies, said Creighton is an ideal fit for the project.

“The new Park Central will have a focus not only on the creation of world-class office, retail and public spaces, but also on a commitment to health and innovation,” said Harper. “Creighton University’s commitment to innovating in health care education makes it a great partner, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have them join the Park Central family.”

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PHOENIX — Hundreds of schools across Arizona continued closure May 1 as educators and their supporters marked their fourth day of a statewide walkout, demanding teacher raises and restoring necessary school funding back to pre-recession rates.

Sparked from nationwide demonstrations, the walkout began late April with nearly 110 districts and charter schools comprised of 852,000 students closed, making it the largest teacher walkout in recent U.S. history. More than 50,000 educators, parents, students and supporters filled the streets of downtown Phoenix later convening at the Capitol to voice their demands.

According to CNN, the Arizona Educators United (AEU), a coalition of Arizonan teachers and educational professionals, asked for a 20 percent pay raise for teachers by next school year and annual raises after that until teacher salaries reach the national average. Leaders of AEU said they would end the walkout if the state legislature approved a budget. However, the budget fell short of what AEU originally demanded.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Republican leaders in the legislature offered a deal May 1, announcing that they were giving a 20 percent pay increase to teachers without raising taxes. The proposal also includes making the first payment toward restoring nearly $400 million slashed from school building and maintenance budgets following the 2008 recession. This, however, did not satisfy the teacher’s demands for improved education funding, contending that the proposal would not be viable without tax measures.

Teachers of Statewide Walkout Take Matters into Their Own Hands

The teachers continued their protest even when the legislature was released while grassroots groups filed paperwork to introduce a ballot initiative, bypassing lawmakers and going straight to the voters for education funding. The initiative, if included in the November ballot, would plan to increase income tax on wealthier Arizonans to support education funding.

AEU leaders told the media that they didn’t get everything they wanted but promised to keep fighting. “They are only going so far. They will not restore the $1.5 billion the AEU wanted,” said Noah Karvelis, a teacher and AEU organizer, at the news conference. “The war is not over, but we’ve won an important battle to move the legislature this far.”

Schools anticipate to open May 3 as teachers participating in the walkout say they will return to school if the governor passes the budget proposal.

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