This design-build project had a key objective: don’t disrupt learning. 

Upgrading and expanding a 1970s school campus is a difficult undertaking. In all, it would take eight phases and nearly two years to reinvent Astronaut High School. But this school wasn’t brand new or empty. An entire student body was on the job site. 

We refreshed the 1970s-era campus with modern upgrades. 

We started with the lifeblood of any modern building: new mechanical, electrical and data communications systems plus a 600-ton chiller to hold the intense Florida heat at bay. The campus got a new 4,000-seat football complex, concession building, outdoor sports courts and an additional 175-space parking lot. Inside the school, students and teachers were treated to new interior finishes, flooring, wall colors and ceilings. Classes were periodically relocated to portable classrooms to maintain student schedules and safety. 

School officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave us high marks. 

The hard work was well worth it. We were proud to complete the project under budget and three months ahead of the contracted schedule. Even better, the school’s superior energy performance earned a Gold Star Award from the U.S. EPA.