American Leadership Academy officials wanted to expand their academic footprint.

American Leadership Academy (ALA) has been expanding from westward and marked Blythewood, South Carolina, as the location of its next K-12 campus. When land restrictions prevented development on the intended property, Haskell cooperated with the client to adjust the plan, instead renovating an existing 250,000-square-foot office building.

The renovation transforms an existing office building into a fully-equipped campus supporting students from K-12.

Interior reconstruction efforts created new classrooms, dance and music rooms, restrooms, locker rooms, a new gymnasium building and additional auxiliary spaces. A newly built kitchen services cafeterias on both the upper and lower floors. Haskell also improved the site to accommodate three separate sports fields, as well as parent drop-off lanes and dedicated student spaces in the existing parking lot.

Aging and non-compliant infrastructure presented unique challenges.

The structure Haskell originally began work on was over 40 years old and required extensive demolition, remediation and structural modifications, including the installation of two new stairwells through four floors. The building’s critical systems also needed comprehensive updates to meet current standards, as few of the original systems remained in service. These upgrades included fire sprinkler systems, fresh air intake systems and other essential infrastructure.

Haskell addressed these conditions through detailed existing-conditions assessments and close coordination between design and field teams, sequencing structural and system upgrades efficiently while minimizing the chance of unforeseen delays.

Haskell’s Education Market supports academic missions across the country.

Despite initial setbacks, ALA’s newest campus is moving forward to provide Blythewood students a space that supports their campus life for years to come. Haskell’s partnership with ALA’s vision combines academic excellence and character development, preparing students to “Learn. Lead. Change the World!”