Woolpert to Repeat as Design Firm for DoD's 21st Century School Facilities
Dayton, Ohio — Woolpert, a national A&E, geospatial firm headquartered in Dayton, has again been selected to provide full design and construction-based services for the replacement of aging primary and secondary schools serving the students of U.S. military families worldwide.
Under the contract, Woolpert will continue to design school facilities under the 21st Century Education Initiative set forth by the Department of Defense Education Activities (DoDEA).
Woolpert will perform the work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Norfolk District/DoDEA Design Center. Through the contract, the department will continue to remove obsolete school buildings – some exceeding 50 years in age – and replace them with sustainable, modern learning environments that support today’s education practices and technology needs.
DoDEA plans to replace or upgrade the 180 schools it operates globally, including 60 in the U.S., 71 in Europe and 49 in Asia.
The redesigned school buildings will feature open, flexible spaces to accommodate multiple learning and teaching styles. Life-cycle cost-effectiveness is also a priority in the new facilities’ design.
Woolpert has worked continuously with DoDEA since 2004, and the firm’s work has been recognized through numerous design and sustainability awards for Barkley Elementary School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
“DoDEA is committed to updating all of its facilities to the same excellent standard,” said Doug Brown, Woolpert’s project director. “Woolpert is proud to continue our work with them, leveraging our expertise to ensure that the children of parents serving our country in the armed forces will receive the benefit of a high-quality education.”
Woolpert’s Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity agreement with USACE features a one-year term and optional renewal for four additional years. Valued at $60 million, the contract will be shared among multiple contracts.
Woolpert’s integrated design team will complete its work from six design centers, including Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chesapeake, Virginia; Dayton, Ohio; and Fairview Heights, Illinois.
“Congress has made it a national priority to replace obsolete school facilities serving military families,” said David Ziegman, Woolpert’s military practice leader and vice president. “We’re pleased to lend our firm’s experience in DoDEA school design and construction to provide students access to an environment that will support their education and help prepare them to live and work in the 21st century.”