Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Florida Net-Zero High School Completes $29M Expansion Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/25/24

NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee, Fla., recently completed a 53,000-square-foot, three-story addition to its campus, according to a news release. The school partnered with construction firm Skanska on the project, which includes 26 new classrooms with collaborative learning spaces and labs. NeoCity Academy was the first net-zero high school campus in the state of Florida, the news release reports.

The expansion includes sustainability features like a photovoltaic canopy that provides solar energy as well as shade and shelter, LED lighting, and designated space for future rooftop solar panels. The project also involved detailing and expanding the school’s building envelope to reduce air leakage and control temperature, air, and humidity. Window placement and sizing were also taken into account to minimize the school’s energy use and heat gain.

“We’re excited to deliver this sustainability-focused expansion to NeoCity Academy and the School District of Osceola County,” said Skanska Vice President Daniel Abou-Jaoude. “This project is a testament to Skanska’s commitment to construct innovative and forward-thinking educational facilities throughout the state.”

The project also features a photovoltaic “mixer” space that acts as a gathering space for faculty and students. Other site improvements include a new canopy and covered walkway that create both outdoor learning spaces and increased accessibility between buildings, according to the news release.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.