EASTVILLE, Va.—Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects, based in Virginia Beach, has been tapped by the Northampton County Board of Supervisors and Northampton County Public Schools to renovate and modernize the 35-acre campus of the Northampton Middle/High School campus in Eastville, a city located on Virginia’s peninsular Eastern Shore.

The plans for the $40 million project call for over 43,000 square feet of the existing school to be demolished, another 55,000 square feet renovated, plus an addition of 78,000 square feet of new classroom and other spaces. A new dedicated wing for grades 6 to 8 will stand alongside another wing redesigned specifically for students in grades 9 to 12.

External upgrades include a dedicated bus loop and delivery bays for trucks to bring in supplies, as well as smoothing traffic flow.

Both the middle and high school will each have their own gyms, classrooms and locker rooms, but they will share a great many elements of the re-envisioned campus. The combined schools will have shared use of an auditorium, common areas and what are being called “elective areas” that serve multiple purposes. The kitchen and cafeteria will essentially have mirrored functions such that the cooking staff can alternate between serving food to either the middle or high school students as needed. Also, the two cafeteria spaces can be merged for use in larger events.

Modern furniture and fixtures will be added to the redesigned spaces. Waller, Todd & Sadler will also update the school’s Career Technology Education building such that it can be utilized for not only middle and high school students but also members of the surrounding community looking to improve their resumes. New programs to be added to the Career Technology Education center include computer science, agriculture and aquaponics, which will complement the programs already offered there in business and industry.

Waller, Todd & Sadler has been working with the county and school board since March of 2019 on a plan to combine the middle and high school elements at the location.

“Since the former stand-alone high school absorbed middle schoolers over time, there is not a strong sense of community for either school,” Maureen McElfresh, Woolpert architectural project manager, said in a recent statement. “By strategically renovating the existing facility per school, staff and public feedback, the division can provide sixth- through 12^th-grade students with distinct, appropriate and state-of-the-art educational amenities, while promoting the identity of each school and the community as a whole.”

When finished, the school’s footprint will increase from its current 110,000 square feet to 145,000 square feet overall. A general contractor has not yet been selected, but construction is due to begin early next year. The existing school facilities will stay open during modernization, and the district is aiming to have the renovated facilities fully open by the summer of 2024.

Waller, Todd & Sadler, a Woolpert Company, employs over 1,100 employees and has 42 offices in three different countries.

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STEVENSON, Md.—The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM), a national architecture firm, completed programming, design, and documentation for the 27,800-square-foot renovation and addition of the Five Arts and Student Center at St. Timothy’s School, a private all-girls high school established in 1882. The school held a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Five Arts and Student Center in May.

“This was a truly transformative project for the building and the school,” said Richard Connell, FAIA, SLAM principal-in-charge. “It will provide high-quality space for the arts, including a beautifully updated theater, new dance rehearsal space, large gallery, and a welcoming space for students to study and collaborate.”

The former, two-story Hannah More Arts Center, now named The Gerry Sisters Five Arts and Student Center, is home to programs in literature, theatre, dance, visual arts and music; there is also a vibrant maker space on the Ground Floor. Inspired by the materials of one of the school’s original buildings, the Carter House, a French-style mansion, the Center uses classical materials of copper, butler stone, and cedar to transform the new building into a contemporary design.

Other significant upgrades to the facility include a refurbished 330-seat theater, featuring new seats, lighting and A/V, a full-service Health and Wellness Center, additional classroom space for the English Department, and an expanded 1,300-square-foot Art Gallery. The courtyard located between the Five Arts and Student Center and dining facility was redesigned with new ornamental trees, benches and new pavers, creating a more welcoming space to relax in between classes in the outdoors.

SLAM’s previous work on campus includes the design of The Commons and Redland Café and Dixon Hall, the main Academic Building on campus.

The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) is a national, fully integrated, multi-disciplinary architecture firm offering architecture, planning, interior design, landscape architecture and site planning, structural engineering and construction services that focuses on higher education, K-12 public/private education, healthcare and corporate market sectors.

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OMAHA, Neb. — Jacobs Project Management has been awarded a contract for the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) Board of Education’s $409.9 million school construction project.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the project includes the construction of five new schools, thanks to the OPS bond measure passed by voters in May.

Through the passage of the measure, OPS will reportedly be able to finance the construction of two high schools, one in northwest Omaha and one in south Omaha, two elementary schools in south Omaha, and one middle school in south Omaha.

OPS will continue to move forward with Phase 2 of its construction projects now that Jacobs has been awarded a contract as project manager.

“The district is currently working with Jacobs to develop the official construction timeline for the renovation and construction work ahead,” said OPS Spokeswoman Monique Farmer.

According to a FAQ website about the bond, the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee has overseen the Phase 1 bond program since it started and will continue to oversee the Phase 2 bond issue to ensure that the district stays within budget.

The website states that the $409.9 million bond will be distributed across the district for both renovation and new construction projects, with over $41 million going towards renovation projects at elementary schools, over $29 million going towards renovation projects at middle schools, and over $69 million going towards renovation projects at high schools, and an alternative school.

Included in those numbers are additions to be completed at Edison, Highland, Masters Pinewood and Spring Lake Magnet Elementary Schools and Lewis & Clark and Morton Magnet Middle Schools.

Over $42 million is being allocated to the construction of the two new elementary schools, over $42 million is being allocated to the new middle school, and over $184 million is being allocated to the two new high schools.

OPS enrolls over 52,000 students and is currently made up of 63 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, seven high schools, one virtual school and 13 alternative programs, according to its website.

Jacobs’ history with OPS reportedly dates back to 1999, when the company managed OPS’ $254 million bond issue. The company was reportedly paid $15.1 million, or 5.9 percent of the total $254 million authorized by voters, over the course of five years to coordinate construction projects and organize dozens of contractors as OPS’ bond program manager.

The Omaha World-Herald reported that for the 2014 Phase 1 program, Jacobs was paid $15.9 million, or 3.79 percent of the $421 million in bonds approved by voters, for a five-year contract that included them overseeing the design, construction and completion of those projects.

That Phase 1 project reportedly included both major and minor construction at 81 existing schools and alternative programs within the school district.

For Phase 2, the program manager will reportedly juggle a number of duties, including handling construction budgets, scheduling work, managing bids, inspecting construction and running an economic inclusion program that is intended to provide a more equal playing field for small and local contractors competing for work.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, Northwest and Bryan High, which opened in the 1970s, were the last to be built in the school district, making the new high school being built in Phase 2, the first new high school to be built in several decades.

Reports from the Omaha World-Herald, and information from the Omaha Public School District’s website contributed to this story.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Lilly Endowment Inc. recently awarded the Indiana University Foundation a $10.9 million grant to support renovation of the university’s internationally renowned Lilly Library, IU President Michael A. McRobbie has announced.

Consistently regarded as one of the nation’s top libraries for books and manuscripts of the greatest importance, the Lilly Library was established in 1960 to house the extensive private library of the late Josiah K. Lilly Jr., one of Lilly Endowment’s founders. The collection he donated includes more than 20,000 rare books and 17,000 manuscripts.

The Lilly Library now contains more than 450,000 rare books, 8.5 million manuscripts and 150,000 sheets of music. Part of the IU Libraries, the venerable limestone building is in the heart of IU Bloomington’s Fine Arts Plaza, the campus’s center for the arts and humanities.

Students often come to the Lilly Library as part of their coursework to review some of the one-of-a-kind materials preserved in the facility.

“Indiana University’s Lilly Library is a state, national and international treasure, and a testament to the vision and generosity of J.K. Lilly Jr.,” said McRobbie. “It has always been universally acclaimed for its unique, world-class collections. Its vibrant and stunning materials continue to astonish all those who use them.

“With this extraordinary support from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Lilly Library will greatly improve its ability to provide wide access to the library’s rare books, manuscripts and objects to broader audiences — from children to lifelong learners and scholars — enhancing all of our communities.”

The Lilly Endowment grant will support major upgrades to the 52,516-square-foot facility’s mechanical systems and lighting, technological equipment, fire protection and security systems, ADA access and building navigation, and space configuration. These improvements will enable maximum preservation and an enhanced and more modern presentation of the library’s literary and cultural treasures, which require special handling and can only be accessed in secure on-site areas. They will also allow students, scholars, researchers, educators and other visitors to more effectively access and experience the library’s one-of-a-kind materials, which are frequently and increasingly incorporated by IU faculty into their teaching, research and creative activities.

“Lilly Endowment is most pleased to support this comprehensive renovation,” said N. Clay Robbins, Lilly Endowment’s chairman, president and CEO. “The Lilly Library meant a great deal to J.K Lilly Jr., who was one of our three founders. These improvements will significantly further his interest in having his magnificent collection, which he so passionately assembled, appreciated and used by future generations.”

According to Lilly Library director Joel Silver, courses taught on site have increased by more than 225 percent since 1992. In 1960, the Lilly Library’s total collection numbered approximately 100,000 rare books and 1 million manuscripts. Today, the book collection has increased 350 percent, and the manuscript collection has grown 750 percent.

The Lilly Library will continue to meet researcher requests for access to its collections and other services in the Herman B Wells Library during construction, which is expected to begin late this year. The library facility is expected to be closed for about 18 months.

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URBANA, Ill. — The Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ Natural History Building has earned LEED Gold certification for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly construction practices in the wake of a recent $79 million renovation.

Originally built in 1892, the Natural History Building reopened in 2017 after a three-year renovation to modernize and add classrooms, laboratories, and study spaces and enhance teaching, research, and collaboration environments. From the beginning of the project, campus officials directed a significant amount of planning and design efforts toward a goal of attaining gold certification, thereby creating healthier and more sustainable spaces to benefit students, faculty, and staff.

The Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) Natural History Building renovation received high merits for being conducted in an environmentally efficient manner, with close attention paid to preventing pollution. More than 76 percent of the construction waste was recycled. A large amount of the material removed from the building was reused.

Rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo flooring, were used in the renovation project. The Natural History Building also received points for water efficient landscaping, energy efficient heating and air conditioning, high levels of daylight for natural lighting, occupancy sensors, and continual energy monitoring.

“Energy efficiency was one of our primary concerns in renovating the Natural History Building,” said Feng Sheng Hu, the Harry E. Preble Dean of the College of LAS. “We are pleased that the U.S. Green Building Council granted us gold certification. In every step of the process, we modernized and expanded the capabilities of this critical building in a sustainable manner.”

The renovation significantly improved water efficiency at the Natural History Building. The building was able to reduce its water usage by at least 20 percent, which is significant given the large number of laboratories and high student traffic in the building. The project also received high marks for using an existing site, having great access to public transportation, and incorporating bicycle parking.

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ALBANY, N.Y. – New York University (NYU) is moving forward with plans to advance sustainable construction and renovation projects throughout its university system.

Gerrard P. Bushell, Ph.D., president & CEO of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), recently announced that NYU issued $862.8 million in bonds through DASNY. The financing will be used in conjunction with previous financings to advance construction and renovation projects throughout the university system. The $862.8 million issued by DASNY on behalf of NYU was offered as $603.5 million in tax-exempt bonds and $259.3 million in taxable bonds.

The issuance includes more than $83 million in Green Bonds providing investors with the opportunity to directly support projects that NYU has identified as environmentally sustainable. Green Bond proceeds will go toward sustainable construction projects and equipment at NYU’s 181 Mercer Street, 370 Jay Street, and the Langone Health Science Building.

“We are excited to have the opportunity continue our long-standing partnership with New York University,” said Bushell. “In working to reduce the university system’s carbon footprint, we are creating more sustainable communities and helping support Gov. Cuomo’s vision for a cleaner, greener New York.”

The proceeds of the issuance will be used to pay for the construction and equipping of a mixed-use building at 181 Mercer Street, which will include dozens of new classrooms, spaces for performing arts education, training, and rehearsals, student and faculty housing, and a replacement sports and recreation facility. The construction will incorporate a variety of sustainable design features such as:

• Connecting to the university’s high-efficiency, green-house gas and pollutant-lowering Co-Generation (CoGen) facility, which produces electricity, heat, and chilled water
• Low-flow plumbing
• Green roofs and outdoor terraces with low irrigation plants to help naturally cool the building, with a retention tank to manage rainwater runoff.

Other Green Bond-funded university system upgrades include:

• Converting the facility at 370 Jay Street into an innovation hub for engineering, applied and urban sciences, and digital technology and media arts. Restoring the existing façade of the building using high-performance, energy efficient windows, and preserving the neighborhood’s aesthetic character, while significantly reducing the building’s energy footprint
• Construction and equipping of the Langone Health Science Building, incorporating various green design strategies such as external glass louvers on the south façade to mitigate direct sun and glare, a light-colored roof and paving stones along with vegetated terraces to also reduce energy load and mitigate urban heat island effect, and high efficiency lab equipment.

NYU embraces sustainable building practices, with the vast majority of the 2019 transaction (tax-exempt and the taxable) slated to support green construction and renovation projects. Last year, NYU made a commitment that all new building construction earn LEED Silver designation at a minimum.

“NYU plans to be carbon neutral by 2040,” said Cecil Scheib, assistant vice president for Sustainability. “With DASNY’s support to make sustainable capital projects cost effective here in New York State, NYU can make the most of each construction opportunity.”

The remainder of the Series 2019 bonds financed other projects, including:

• Upgrades to the university’s CoGen plant to improve energy-efficiency and accommodate increased electricity, heating, and cooling needs related to expansion, the Co-Gen plant substantially reduced NYU’s carbon footprint when it first came on line in 2011
• Upgrades to infrastructure and renovations at 404 Lafayette Street and 708 Broadway
• Improvements to academic facilities in Brooklyn for the Tandon School of Engineering
• Renovations and equipping of space for use by the university’s Chemical Biology Department at the Silver Complex.

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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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The facility has been completely updated to meet the needs of today’s students in accordance with the school’s mission of ethical learning, academic excellence and progressive education. ARO has instilled the Tate Library with a spacious and open layout, to provide better access to books, information and technology and to foster a variety of teaching and learning approaches. The new layout comprises offices, enclosed collaboration rooms, open group work areas and individual study places. The ceilings are highlighted by custom glass fiber-reinforced gypsum and new LED lighting, and the fresh study environment is designed with maximum sound absorption and thoughtful placement of furniture to showcase ample daylight and views of the campus.

This comprehensive renovation of Tate Library at ECFS has morphed the iconic 1970 building into a learning commons that is a hub for the entire campus. In support of ECFS’s mission of ethical learning, academic excellence and progressive education, the building’s new open, roomy interior offers greater access to books, information and technology.

Keeping the integrity of the original stone and concrete building, the exterior changes include new windows with “bird-friendly” glazing and a new main entrance facing the campus quadrangle. A reworked interior layout, technology infrastructure, environmental systems, and LED lighting optimizes the user experience and also considers evolving future needs. Custom glass fiber reinforced gypsum (GFRG) ceilings in the open areas integrate lighting and complement the continuity of the space. Careful zoning of activities and acoustical treatment, as well as new enclosed collaboration rooms, offices and support spaces around the perimeter of the building, boost group and individual studies.

The main construction work on the 23,000-square-foot project took place from June 2017 to October 2018, and was overseen by Consigli.

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The project, scheduled to officially kick off this summer, involves two buildings: Bird Hall, one of the college’s original buildings, and the Nicholas Center.

Upon project finalization, Bird Hall will house the college’s Nursing and EMS/Paramedic programs, allowing faculty and students to share state-of-the-art equipment and take part in cooperative experiences that will mimic real-world interactions. The renovated Bird Hall will also feature three new science labs.

The Nicholas Center revamp includes an expansion, which will nearly double the building’s current size. The 25,503-square-foot addition will be a new workforce center operated by the Community College Workforce Alliance — the workforce development partnership between JTCC and Reynolds Community College.

In addition to classroom spaces, the new workforce center will feature a spacious, flexible lab, which can be configured to suit a wide array of training programs. The renovated Nicholas Center will also boast a large conference room that can be used for workforce training and other functions; new collaborative spaces for Tyler students and the Office of Student Activities; a larger bookstore with a café; and additional general classroom and office space.

“At the heart of Tyler’s Chester Campus renovation project is workforce development,” said Holly Walker, public relations manager for JTCC. “The renovations to Bird Hall, one of our original buildings, and the renovation and expansion of the Nicholas Center will allow us to enhance and expand our programs that prepare students for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow and that support the workforce needs of area business and industry.”

The Chester Campus renovation project is expected to cost about $34 million and take about 14 months to complete. The architecture for the renovation is overseen by the national firm Grimm + Parker (G+P), while the construction will be handled by Cleveland-based Donley’s.

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DELAND, Fla. — Stetson University in DeLand began construction on a $27 million expansion and renovation to its historic Carlton Union Building (CUB), with the help of Orlando, Fla.-based Williams Company Building Division. The refresh of the university’s central hub will help better serve students in the future.

The 62-year-old, two-story building will be transformed from a 52,000-square-foot to an 86,584-square-foot facility under three separate phases. The lobby, faculty lounge and Stetson Room are all included in the remodel, according to Williams Company’s CEO Bob Lipscomb.

Last August, the first floor of the new North Wing opened with a larger bookstore, post office and copy center as well as the CUB in the HUB information desk during the first phase of the project, according to the school’s website. After the second phase opens in August 2018, the third and final phase will bring a renovated South Wing with a new Coffee Shop, Faculty Lounge and a grander South Lobby at the end of 2018. The third phase also will include renovated offices for Hancock and other staff in Campus Life and Student Success on the second floor of the South Wing.

CUB initially opened in 1956 with all original mechanical and electrical systems in place when construction began. With the building existing at the center of student activity for the campus, it’s the university’s goal to bring the building up to modern standards for all of the systems, finishes and technology. Every portion of the building will be updated and brought up to code.

These updates come with a completely new electrical system, a backup generator for the entire building, an all-new HVAC system, a new fire sprinkler system, new standing seam roof, new windows throughout, a completely new kitchen and dining area, and new bookstore.

Lipscomb explained that the biggest challenge of the project for their team so far has been working around students in the current facility while they lounge and dine.

“The entire student body of the school eats all of their meals in this building, so we are surrounded daily by students and faculty,” said Lipscomb. “Before we demolished the existing kitchen we built a complete temporary kitchen in an adjacent metal building while the new kitchen was being built. The temporary kitchen will be utilized for about 15 months and then removed. But we are accustomed to working in high traffic areas and have many processes in place to address safety, traffic flow and temporary relocations of departments.”

The Commons dining hall and kitchen project also features an east-facing glass wall overlooking green space and a patio dining area. In addition to this, the expansion will make way for meeting rooms, a student lounge, a campus radio station and new offices for student groups.

“The CUB is our heartbeat,” said Kat Thomas, associate director of Student Development and Campus Vibrance, in a statement. “It is a place where students can find connections and know they belong throughout their experience. It is a student-owned space that will hopefully become integral to their meaning of being a Hatter.”

Completion of the new CUB is expected in the fall of 2018.

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