Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Louisiana District Prepares for Three Facilities for Rebuilds

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/14/22

The Lafayette Parish School System in Lafayette, La., announced this week that it has selected construction companies for three rebuilding projects within its district. According to local news, J.B. Mouton LLC has been named the construction manager at risk for renovations to Carencro Heights Elementary and Prairie Elementary. The Lemo1ne Company has been selected as the construction manager at risk for the Truman Early Education Center. The two firms were named after a unanimous vote at a school board meeting last week.

The Truman Early Education Center will move from its current location to a new, 10.5-acre property whose purchase the district approved in December 2021 for $2.3 million. Funding for the project is coming from $26.5 million in ESSER III funds; local news reports that the project qualifies because it will meet COVID-19 health and safety standards in a way that the current campus cannot.

“It has been somewhat of a rose bush in the forest,” said board member Elroy Broussard. “It’s hidden. Nobody knows it’s there. Unless you’re going there, you don’t know it’s there. When parents are looking for someplace to send their kid, they thing about every other school—but they don’t think about Truman.”

Broussard said he hopes the increased visibility at the school’s new location will help boost enrollment and increase community awareness of the facility.

Carencro Heights and Prairie Elementaries, meanwhile, have been tagged for replacement since the district’s 2010 facilities master plan. Carencro Heights’ rebuild will occur at its current site and on a 10.5-acre property next door that the school board bought in 2018. Prairie will also move to a new location, a 22-acre property also purchased in 2018. Both the Carencro Heights and Prairie rebuilds are estimated to cost about $22 million each, according to the school board’s agenda from last week’s meeting.

The architects for each of the three projects have also been announced. Grace Hebert Curtis and DLR Group will work on Truman, Barras Architects on Carencro and Poché Prouet Associates will work on Prairie.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.