Mary Scott NabersConstruction opportunities are almost always abundant, but currently there are more than usual construction projects being launched for public school campuses. Common objectives include major renovation or expansion of aging facilities, total replacement of inefficient classrooms, upgrades to lighting, technology, and security equipment, and adding new sports and cultural facilities.
Voters in San Antonio recently approved a $309 million bond package that will fund the construction of two new school buildings for the East Central Independent School District in Bexar County, Texas. The district’s student population, currently around 11,200, is projected to more than double in approximately six years. Several campuses, including multiple elementary schools, are on track to exceed 120% capacity by 2028, spurring the need to launch these projects now.
One elementary school has a $49.73 million budget, and the other building carries a projected cost of $50.55 million. Both construction projects will include design features such as enhanced lighting, soundproofing, climate control systems, and flexible learning spaces that include science labs, libraries, and collaboration areas. With funding secured for both locations, procurement for the planning and design will happen in 2025 and solicitation documents could be released in late 2025. Construction is planned for early 2026.
Officials at Connecticut’s Wallingford Consolidated School District have announced plans to merge two current high schools into a single, modern campus designed to accommodate around 1,600 students. The effort carries an estimated cost of more than $200 million.
The new unified high school will span up to 338,000 square feet and will include state-of-the-art academic and extracurricular facilities. When completed, the campus will feature a gymnasium with seating for 1,600, an 800-person capacity auditorium, and a new cafeteria designed to accommodate up to 400 students. Additionally, there will be dedicated spaces for Career and Technical Education programs and a 75-seat lecture hall to support advanced learning opportunities. Other potential enhancements under review include an aquatics center and a planetarium designed to enrich science education. The project is currently in the planning phase which is expected to continue until mid-2026. Solicitations can be anticipated after that.
The Charleston County School Board recently approved a $100+ million increase in its capital projects budget to renovate and upgrade two district facilities. The James B. Edwards Elementary replacement project, estimated to cost $70.55 million, will modernize a facility that is no longer able to provide an enriched learning environment. The repurposed building will be designed to serve as a flexible space for community events. The James Island Charter High School stadium will undergo significant renovations as well. Officials have said that the upgrades will enhance both the athletic experience for students and the facility’s usability for hosting a variety of other school district events. These projects are among the first to be evaluated using Charleston County School District’s newly adopted financial modeling system that allows district officials to forecast construction needs based on current enrollment trends, aging infrastructure, and anticipated maintenance demands. Both projects are currently in the design phase and construction is planned for the spring of 2026.
A $340 million construction project has been approved for a new Engineering and Digital Innovation Center on the campus of Michigan State University. The new facility will be a multi-purpose building to support undergraduate and graduate level programs in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and quantum computing. It will include classrooms for digital learning, laboratories for innovative research, student project studios, and community spaces. Notable project components will include technology, security, equipment, furniture, landscaping and more. The project is in the early planning phase and construction is slated to begin shortly after completion of the planning and design phases. No timelines have been announced for contracting solicitations.
Officials in Wisconsin’s West Bend School District will oversee a project to replace the Jackson Elementary School with a new building. The current building was built in 1915 and has been expanded and updated since then, but the entire facility is nearing the end of its useful life.
The new $48 million school will provide a more secure entrance and have enhanced security measures campuswide. The instructional space will maximize natural light throughout the art and music areas, cafeteria, and physical education spaces. It will have two instructional wings, one of which will have two levels. The final design for the new Jackson Elementary School will be approved this fall. Construction is planned to begin in spring 2026.
Earlier this month, members of the Fairfax County Public Schools Board in Virginia approved a plan to purchase a former private high school building to serve as the district’s first new public high school in decades. The cost to buy the facility with all its furniture and equipment was $150 million.
The building is located on a 30-acre site and it has amenities that include an indoor swimming pool, three gyms, a theater, and studios for ceramics and robotics. The building will require some renovations to meet district standards for a new high school and the anticipated cost for the renovation effort could total an additional $150 million. No timelines have been announced for contracting solicitations, or a construction start, but plans call for it to be operational for the 2027 school year.
Large construction projects usually call for local subcontractors and prime contractors are always wise to develop those contracts as soon as possible. Local officials always like to meet interested prime contractors who have taken the time to meet with and select local partners.
