CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Human services provider Melmark is partnering with architect Ossa Design Studio and general contractor Swinerton Builders on a new school in North Carolina’s largest city. The new Melmark school will be a boon for local families whose children require more focused educational services and special education teachers.

The 31,000-square-foot structure will be purpose-built for ADA compliance for its 14 classrooms. Additional spaces in the new building will include clinical support areas, a lunchroom, as well as offices devoted specifically to professional development and training according to the Melmark paradigm.

Melmark’s program entails accommodating students on the autism spectrum as well as those with other special needs, including those who have endured brain injuries. The program works with those aged five to 22 who require extra care and more personalized, hands-on learning experiences.

“There is a steady, growing need for our services and this new school building will support spacious, well-designed classroom environments with innovative tools for learning and skills building,” Rita M. Gardner, Melmark president and CEO, said at the groundbreaking. “This growth in North Carolina reflects our mission and strategic goal to serve children in diverse and inclusive communities who need and deserve Melmark’s specialized special education services to reach their best outcomes.”

Swinerton, founded in 1888, is an employee-owned firm headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay. They also have offices in Raleigh, Atlanta, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Dallas and San Diego.

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ANAHEIM, Calif.— Canyon High School’s new state-of-the art S.T.E.M. classroom building in Anaheim recently marked a significant milestone with the final steel beam being lifted into place.

The final beam, signed by students, staff and administrators, as well as community members and elected officials who supported the project, “topped out” the initial construction as it was ceremoniously placed.

“The topping out of the Canyon High School S.T.E.M. complex is a momentous occasion for the Orange Unified community,” said Orange Unified School District (OUSD) Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen. “As superintendent, I couldn’t be more pleased to see the progress being made on the beautiful, top-notch facilities that our students, staff and residents deserve.”

Gafcon Inc. is providing construction management services during all phases of this project that includes a new two-story, 67,098-square-foot science, technology, engineering and mathematics building and the conversion of an existing administration building into a new food services and kitchen facility.

With a completion date slated for winter 2021, this $42.5 million project also includes a new entry in the campus’ multi-purpose building; a student parking lot and drop-off expansion; upgraded utility, technology, data, and communication infrastructure; and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.

“These 12 new classrooms and laboratories at Canyon High School will inspire learning in OUSD students for decades to come,” said Gafcon Senior Project Manager Michael Lengyel. “We are proud to partner with OUSD and happy to have provided creative and strategic solutions that contributed to more than $1.5 million in savings for the District.”

Those savings were delivered several ways:

• By implementing the use of ConXtech modular steel framing system, about $500,000 in materials costs and inspections were saved, as was about six weeks of construction.
• Using one bid package in the design-bid-build model, instead of four as originally planned, created cost savings for the bid preparation, contractor general conditions and overhead. It also meant only one general contractor — not four — was needed onsite.
• The use of a temporary modular kitchen facility instead of a temporary modular building to house the school’s administrative staff during construction resulted in a cost savings of about $900,000.

This is one of four Measure S bond-funded projects to the District’s four high school campuses. Gafcon is working with Swinerton Builders and architecture firm CannonDesign on the project.

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The $31.4 million project was underwritten by voter-approved Measure R, a California ballot measure in the November 2008 elections in Los Angeles County. The measure proposed a half-cent sales taxes increase on every dollar of taxable sales for 30 years in an effort to pay for infrastructure improvements and transportation projects.

Of note is the fact that the entire Lemonwood project was accomplished on a fully occupied campus with little disturbance to students and faculty, and zero need for an interim location. Construction was overseen by Swinerton Builders and with program manager Caldwell Flores Winters Inc. — both of which have offices in Los Angeles.

The first phase of construction included the main classroom and multipurpose buildings and will be followed by a more aggressive second phase that will see the construction of additional kindergarten classrooms and administration buildings. When it’s completed in 2019, the new nearly 10-acre campus will boast 28 classrooms, four kindergarten classroom, two special education classrooms, administration areas, a media center, food service, a multipurpose room and physical education spaces.

The improved campus will also see a retrofit of one of the existing campus’ larger buildings into a series of “flex rooms” for enhanced kindergarten, transitional kindergarten or preschool programs. There will also be three science/flex lab classrooms. In all, the Lemonwood Elementary School project represents a massive makeover for the campus, which was originally constructed in 1981 and has not been modernized since 2004. 

“Our district has engaged in a major transformation of our educational program and facilities,” said Dr. Cesar Morales, Oxnard School District Superintendent, in a statement. “These new facilities will support our efforts to provide a 21st century education to all our students.”

Founded 15 years ago in its home base of Santa Ana, Calif., SVA Architects has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with OSD. The firm also redesigned the school district’s Elm Elementary, a project currently under construction.

“We’re so pleased to continue our exceptional relationship with Oxnard School District, and provide updated educational facilities fitting for tomorrow’s thinkers and leaders,” said Robert Simons, AIA, President of SVA Architects in a statement.

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For Knapp, the plan involves building a 67,822-square-foot, two-story elementary school on an open space adjacent to the existing facility. The $14 million project will include a separate gym and cafeterias, as well as space for community activities in collaboration with the United Way of Racine County. Bray Architects of Milwaukee was selected to design the new school in January.

When construction begins on Olympia Brown Elementary, the school’s original location will be vacated and the school will shift to a different area in Caledonia. The $15 million school will span approximately 67,415-square-foot and will likely focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum. Milwaukee-based Zimmerman Architectural Studios designed the facility.

The Gifford Elementary School addition, designed by Partners in Design of Kenosha, Wis., will be the largest of the three projects in terms of both size and total estimated cost. Gifford will require a $16.5 million budget with an extra $2.4 million to renovate the existing 85,000-square-foot elementary school. The middle school addition will comprise roughly 78,000 square feet, and the school, which will serve K-8 students upon completion, will remain open throughout construction.

The schools are anticipated to open in the fall of 2016 and will help improve educational offerings to district students. These projects will also create new community jobs.

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