By Lindsey Coulter

The University of Missouri–Kansas City continues advancing several major construction and renovation projects across campus, with work underway on academic, student-support and administrative facilities tied to the university’s strategic goals.

Current projects include the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building at 25th and Charlotte��streets��and renovations to the Atterbury Student Success Center.��Additional��projects expected to begin construction this year include the expansion of the Conservatory’s Olson Performing Arts Center and renovations to the UMKC Administrative Center.����

Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building��

The 160,000-square-foot Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building��remains��the largest capital improvement project in UMKC history.����

According to the university, the project reached a major��milestone��Sept. 17 when crews placed the final structural beam after a signing ceremony involving elected officials, university leadership, students,��faculty��and staff.����

Construction crews are continuing interior and exterior work throughout the facility. Interior wall framing is progressing, while drywall installation, piping insulation and overhead��mechanical,��electrical, plumbing and fire-protection systems continue advancing. Exterior work includes completion of penthouse metal panels, curtain wall installation,��roofing��and remaining fire-hydrant connections.����

The building is expected to open in 2027.����

Atterbury Student Success Center��

Renovations at the Atterbury Student Success Center began in May 2025 and are expected to conclude in summer 2026.����

The university reported that walls and ceilings are��nearly fully��installed, while carpet installation, painting and finish work are underway. Construction at the building’s north entry is expected to continue into the first part of summer.����

Once complete, the renovated facility will house Admissions, the UMKC School of Graduate Studies, the Center for Transfer Students and Adult Learners, Roo Advising, Career Services, University��College��and International Student Affairs. Plans also include a Welcome Center with a two-story atrium intended to host prospective students and their families.����

Career Services programming will also expand to include a Professional Wardrobe Studio, providing students with access to professional clothing options and interview headshots. UMKC Central and the Financial Wellness Center will��relocate��from the Administrative Center into the renovated building as part of the project.����

Olson Performing Arts Center Expansion��

UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal announced during the 2025 State of the University that the Olson Performing Arts Center expansion is expected to break ground in 2026.����

The 35,000-square-foot addition will add performance and rehearsal spaces on the east side of the building extending toward Volker Boulevard.����

University officials said the project will increase performance, classroom and collaboration opportunities for students and the Kansas City community. The first phase of construction is estimated at $35 million and includes a large music ensemble performance and rehearsal space, two dance rehearsal rooms, support space for the dance program and a new accessible black box performance venue.����

According to the university, the black box addition will help create a “theatre district” alongside White Recital Hall, Spencer��Theatre��and the McIlrath Lobby.����

The second phase will renovate existing facilities, including White Recital Hall, to create��additional��classroom and theatre space as well as expanded student collaboration areas.��

UMKC Administrative Center Renovation��

Renovations to the UMKC Administrative Center are expected to begin in late spring and conclude in winter 2027.����

The project will focus on the building’s front exterior and first floor, including accessibility improvements such as removing stairs in the entryway and lobby and adding accessible parking spaces.����

Interior renovations include a refreshed lobby and new reception desk. As part of the changes, UMKC Central will��relocate��to the Atterbury Student Success Center, while its former Administrative Center space will become an alumni reception area and office suite for the UMKC Foundation.����

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By Ryan Jang and Cecily Ng��

The reimagined Creekside Center at UC Berkeley��represents��a fundamental shift in how accessibility, sustainability, and historic preservation can coexist within the academic built environment. Located in the campus’ classical core, the project transformed the former��Dwinelle��Hall Annex — a deteriorating, barrier-laden structure — into an inclusive, high-performance home for the university’s Disabled Students’ Program (DSP). Rather than treating accessibility as a compliance exercise, the design team approached the renovation as an opportunity to��demonstrate��how universal design can enhance comfort, resilience, and agency for all building users.����

Shaped by an extensive programming process that included feedback from students, staff, and campus stakeholders, the project is rooted in DSP’s belief that “an accessible environment universally benefits everyone.”��More than��4,000 students visit the��building regularly to receive services such as proctoring, alternative��media��and interpreting.����

A Historic Building with Modern Barriers��

The two-story building is nestled in the mature trees north of Strawberry Creek.��Originally��designed��by John Galen Howard in 1920��in the First Bay Tradition,��there were��additions in 1924 by Howard and 1949 by Michael Goodman.��When��the��project began in 2021,��many features attributing��the building��to the First Bay Tradition��were present��but��in a state of disrepair. A non-code compliant ramp linked three of the lower elevations while the upper floors were disconnected��and��only��reachable��by��stairs.��The exterior suffered from water intrusion, rot, and pest damage.��The existing��steam��heating system was served by��the campus central plant��in a highly inefficient manner. There was no mechanical ventilation or air filtration system.����

Restoring Character While Improving Performance��

The building’s exterior was carefully rehabilitated, with its historic character��retained��and repaired, when possible. New��cladding��replicates��the original redwood board and batten siding. The��low-pitched gabled roof eaves and fascias��were restored. The��spearmint-colored��windows with divided��lites��were replaced with high performance windows of��the same size��and appearance. “High performance”��could��not just address environmental qualities.��Window models��were��also��evaluated for��accessibility��features��such as operating force and the height of locking and lifting mechanisms.����

Other envelope-tightening measures included adding weather barriers and insulation to the exterior walls,��roof��and floors. The project installed all-electric mechanical systems.��Through this��deep-energy��retrofit,��actual energy��use��in the six months of full occupancy has been 84% below baseline. The embodied carbon intensity is 63% lower than the median new-construction educational building.��

A Ramp as the Building’s Circulation Spine��

The one major exterior addition is a new ramp that connects the five existing floor elevations. As the��single��circulation��spine, the ramp��facilitates��equitable��access throughout the building. Large expanses of glazing along the ramp��allows��views clear across the building from the campus to the creek. Exposed structural wood posts��supporting the ramp��create a unifying cadence and a place for handrail brackets. By expressing the ramp slope on the exterior with��a��contemporary��fiber cement panel façade, the ramp��becomes��a beacon that communicates universal access.��

Universal Design Beyond Code Requirements��

Universal Design strategies exceed code��accessibility��requirements and include color and form-based wayfinding and biophilia rich interiors.��The restored��existing��wood��roof trusses were exposed��as an interior finish material��and��influenced the��remainder��of the interior material palette. Wood is used in high touch places such as windows, handrails, and wall end caps. The wood provided textural and color contrast, both of which help make spaces more accessible, without overwhelming the senses.����

Preserving the existing floor to floor height significantly limited the space for mechanical equipment. By selectively lowering the ceiling at��the��threshold��between��circulation��and��program spaces, the team created room for the equipment and provided an area for an individual to decompress before deciding how to engage with the space ahead.��The floor material��and wall��color differ from the adjacent spaces and are only used��in��the thresholds. The color, texture, and difference in light quality��in the threshold spaces signifies��to someone with low vision they were about to enter a new type of space.��

Designing for Choice, Agency, and Comfort��

The thresholds��offer��individual��choice,��a theme��also��integrated��elsewhere. Each��office��has an independently controlled��thermostat,��and��every��regularly occupied space has at��least one operable window��to��provide individual��choice in the quality and temperature of airflow. Solar shades and dimmer switches for all overhead lights��allow occupants to control the quality of light.��Individualized controls are often missing from today’s workspaces, but these features��are��easy to integrate and go a long way to make occupants feel welcome.����

To guide the project beyond minimum code accessibility, the team devised a list of��eight��“Impact Areas” that connect access needs to design features rather than assigning features to specific disabilities. The Impact Areas included��needs��such as community building and privacy, cognitive access, and sensory zoning.��The Impact Areas��offered��a framework to address “dueling disabilities,” where��people have drastically different environmental needs,��and��ultimately��helped��the team��provide agency and enhance feelings of safety and security��in the building.��Creekside Center provides a much-needed home for a community that has��historically marginalized from the design of the built environment.��

Ryan Jang,��AIA, LEED AP, is a Principal and Cecily Ng, AIA, is an Associate��with��Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects.��

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By Michelle Kelly

In the ever-evolving landscape of K–12 education, school districts across the country are grappling with a pivotal question: When is it more prudent to renovate an aging facility, and when is it time to start fresh with a new build? The answer is far more nuanced than a simple cost comparison.

K-12 schools nationwide grapple with aging infrastructure, learning environments that fail to support today’s educational models, rising maintenance and operation costs and limited capital budgets. The decision to renovate or replace a K-12 school facility is one of the most consequential choices a district can make, impacting not only finances but also educational outcomes and community trust.

With rising materials and labor costs, it’s increasingly important for school districts to evaluate the cost of planned renovations against the cost of new construction today and in the future. While many projects are identified as part of multi-year bond programs and prioritized accordingly, budgeted funds are increasingly insufficient to complete the desired facility and program updates when the project is scheduled to begin.

Before proceeding with design, engaging an independent third-party cost estimator to assess both renovation and new construction options can provide critical context for making data-informed decisions.

Beyond the Bottom Line

“People often treat estimating as a checkbox during design,” said Conor Clarke, a cost estimator with OCMI Inc. “But it should be treated as a strategic step during programming or conceptual design — if not earlier — to help districts understand the constraints of renovation and replacement options.”

Michael Mejia, an expert in educational facility cost analysis at OCMI, agrees. “It’s not just about cost—it’s about fiscal responsibility and long-term planning. Especially in California, where DSA [Division of the State Architect] regulations can dramatically shift the scope of a project.”

The 50% Threshold: A Critical Pivot Point

When renovation costs near 50% of the cost of new construction, comparative estimates become essential — not only to determine whether to proceed, scale back, or opt for full replacement, but also to uncover hidden project factors that could significantly affect the final cost. Conducting these estimates early helps reduce risk and supports long-term, strategic planning for school districts.

In California, DSA mandates that if renovation costs exceed 50% of the replacement cost value (RCV), the project must include seismic upgrades — often triggering a cascade of additional code compliance requirements and costs. This threshold is calculated using DSA’s IR EB4 form, which sets a baseline replacement cost (currently $517 per square foot for K–12 schools). This is often significantly lower than actual market rates, which have been unable to keep pace with market movement over the last 10 years.

“Most of our renovation projects already exceed that $517 per square foot figure,” Mejia notes. In San Diego, for example, school construction costs range from $800 to $1,200 per square foot. Even modest renovations can inadvertently trigger seismic upgrades.

In Nevada, where no statewide threshold exists, the Clark County School District sees the highest renovation costs in HVAC and roofing, with only minimal to moderate interior updates. When costs near the replacement threshold, the question becomes: Is it worth spending millions to put a band-aid on a school that still falls short of meeting modern educational needs?

“Sustainability targets, although necessary from a climate standpoint, further increase the likelihood of these types of triggering events due to their higher associated costs,” said Clarke.

Areas with significant carbon reduction initiatives, like Washington and California, have a higher predisposition to seeing project costs in excess of replacement thresholds driven by the associated codes and standards that must be factored into a design, as opposed to the nature of the initial project.

Read the full article — including tips on calculating hidden costs, balancing needs with budgets and the case for new construction — in the July/August issue of 91ԭƬ.

Michelle Kelly is a director of Business Development at OCMI Inc. in Seattle. OCMI is an independent cost estimating firm that takes a data-driven approach.

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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 ��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 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 .

Jacobs’ history with OPS ��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 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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