Adam RollinsThis story was originally published in the Texas Government Insider newsletter from Strategic Partnerships, Inc. To have the latest government contracting news stories from across the country delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe.
The Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD) will invest $137.3 million to upgrade district facilities, equipment, infrastructure and security measures. High priority needs include addressing immediate maintenance and safety needs, buying property and improving campus and district buildings.
HPISD will divide $58.1 million between three school campuses. Highland Park Middle School and McCulloch Intermediate School (HPMS-MIS) will receive the largest portion of the allocated funds, totaling $29.1 million. This will cover a series of improvements, including replacing and upgrading HVAC units, replacing the chiller piping system and repairing and replacing the security and fire alarm systems.
HPMS-MIS will also replace doors and hardware, renovate restrooms, fix elevators, upgrade classroom audio systems, renovate lockers and improve locker rooms. Plans include fully upgrading the kitchen and cafeteria, renovating the black box theatre and improving the auditorium. Recreation centered projects include improving the play area’s grading, surfacing and drainage, installing turf for the main athletic and extra-curricular field and improving the track.
Highland Park High School (HPHS) will allocate $22.3 million to expand student parking and improve the current parking garage’s electricity. Interior improvements will include repairing and replacing security and fire alarm systems, replacing HVAC units, installing basement sump pumps and renovating restrooms, the scene shop, art room and science lab. The school will also replace flooring campuswide and improve the kitchen and cafeteria’s equipment and serving line.
The remaining $6.7 million directly allocated to schools will go toward refreshing Armstrong Elementary School’s interior, exterior, gym, kitchen and cafeteria. The campus’ priority will go toward fixing infrastructure and equipment, including replacing HVAC units, repairing and improving plumbing, fixing doors and hardware, replacing lockers, replacing flooring and adding electrical infrastructure to classrooms.
The district will enhance Armstrong’s exterior by replacing windows and doors, improving drainage, upgrading the playground and resurfacing the court. Plans also include replacing the gym’s floor, improving its lighting, replacing the wallpad and repainting it. Finally, Armstrong will renovate the kitchen and cafeteria by upgrading its equipment, replacing flooring, enclosing the manager’s office and refacing serving lines.
A combined total of $40.2 million will support a variety of projects campuswide, focusing on extracurricular programs, facilities, technology, budget, safety and security and the administration building. Some of these improvements will include:
- Replacing the administration building’s roof and HVAC.
- Installing fencing, replacing cameras, installing card readers and emergency call out buttons.
- Procuring buses and building a dedicated bus parking lot.
- Retrofitting LEDs across all three campuses.
- Improving the indoor practice field by replacing turf, resurfacing the weight room, replacing wall padding and repainting it.
- Enhancing the softball, baseball and multi-purpose field with new batting cages, improved bullpens, a changing room, improved safety netting and updated turf.
Property acquisition comes in at $39 million for future facilities. Aside from building construction, the district anticipates using the newly acquired land to expand high school parking.
Photo courtesy Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
