Duval County Public Schools Breaks Ground on New Middle School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/25/23

Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Fla., recently celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for a new middle school, according to a news release. Chaffee Trail Middle School will play home to students in grades 6–8 and is currently scheduled to open before the start of the 2024–25 school year. The district partnered on the project with architecture and engineering firm Zyscovich, LLC, and Gilbane Building Company.

Funding for the $50-million construction project comes from a $1.7-billion capital improvement program involving a half-cent sales tax that local voters approved in 2020. The new facility will measure in at 124,259 square feet and include amenities like 26 classrooms, a Career and Technical Education Center, science demonstration labs, skills development labs, and Exceptional Student Education classrooms, according to local news. The new school will have a capacity for 994 students.

“We are committed to building a better future for the communities in which we live and work and for the generations to come,” said Gilbane Building Company Area Manager Adam Verducci. “With that, we as a company have committed to generating $4 billion in awards over five years to certified minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBE), disadvantaged, LGBTBE, and veteran-businesses enterprises and are proud to work alongside a local Minority/Woman owned environmental partner and other small and diverse partners for construction management support and outreach.”

The new school will feature outdoor athletic amenities for football and soccer baseball and softball, tennis, basketball, and track, the news release reports.

Other new projects being funded by the capital improvement plan are set to include a $58-million new high school and a replacement facility for Rutledge Pearson Elementary, local news reports.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Chef Ann Foundation Awards Grants to Purchase Bulk Milk to 15 K–12 Districts

    The Chef Ann Foundation recently announced that it has awarded 29 grants to 15 school districts around the U.S. to go toward purchasing milk in bulk instead of single-serve containers. The Bulk Milk program is in its second year and provides recipients with the equipment, training, and materials required for schools to make the shift, according to a news release.

  • Minnesota District Completes Major Renovations, Expansions to High School

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced that it has completed the renovation and expansion of White Bear Lake Area High School, according to a news release. The school’s final addition, a new 845-seat Performing Arts Center, was finished in November.

  • IFMA Releases AI Guide for Facilities Managers

    The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) recently released a guide to understanding and using AI in built environments, according to a news release. “Gamechanger: A Facility Manager’s Guide to Building a Relationship with AI” is available to IFMA members through IFMA’s Knowledge Library.

  • North Dakota State University Starts Construction on Research Lab

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently began construction on the new, $78-million Bolley Agricultural Research Laboratory, according to a news release. The university partnered with JLG Architects and Clark & Enersen for the building’s design and with Kraus-Anderson for its construction.

Digital Edition