OCPS Academic Center for Excellence

Baker Barrios Architects, Inc.

Project of Distinction 2017 Education Design Showcase

OCPS Academic Center for Excellence

Project Information

Facility Use: Early Childhood/Elementary/Middle School
Project Type: New Construction
Category: Community/Joint Use Facilities
Location: Orlando, FL
District/Inst.: Orange County Public Schools
Chief Administrator: n/a
Completion Date: September 2017
Gross Area: 251,812 sq. ft.
Area Per Student: 208 sq. ft.
Site Size: 12 acres
Current Enrollment: 1,070 students
Capacity: 1,211 students
Cost per Student: $42,526
Cost per Sq. Ft.: $205
Total Cost: $51,499,557

OCPS Academic Center for ExcellenceEducation secures the future for our youth. Schools are a place not just to learn, but to develop children into the people they have the potential to be. For Parramore, a community that has gone without a new school in decades, the new 251,812-square-foot school and community center shows promise for the bright futures for thousands of local children. We are excited to have been a part of making it a reality.

The Orange County Public Schools Academic Center for Excellence (OCPS ACE) is a first-of-its-kind downtown Orlando school, welcoming up to 1,211 students from preschool to eighth grade. The school was designed by Baker Barrios Architects (in association with HKS) and provides tutoring, mentoring, parent resources, on-site counseling and health services, and a number of before and after-school programs thanks largely to generous donations from the likes of Orlando City Soccer Club and the support of Children’s Home Society of Florida, the Boys & Girls Club, The University of Central Florida, Valencia College, Orange Blossom Family Health, the Rosen Foundation and others.

In the short time that OCPS ACE has been open, its impact has already been felt in the community. “Students are afforded a high-quality academic experience as well as tutoring and mentoring programs, before and after school services, athletic and arts programs, counseling on nutrition, exercise and health lifestyles choices and various on-site services.  All of these services and more have created excitement for the school and community the likes we have not seen in district 5,” explains Kat Gordon, District 5 school board member.

The OCPS ACE features:

  • Community Clinic
  • Boys & Girls Club
  • Preschool
  • Parking Garage
  • Green Globe certified
  • Computer lab
  • Art & Music lab
  • Secure campus with only one public entrance
  • Outdoor track and activities area
  • Computers and touchscreen panels in classrooms

For all kids, life is more than just the hours spent in the classroom. That’s why this downtown Orlando school is so much more than just a school. As Ms. Gordon put it, “The project has brought the community together in ways we have never seen before. From the voters who approved the half-cent sales tax to build the school, to the community philanthropists whose donations will provide valuable experiences on this campus, we are lucky to live in a community that truly values and supports public education.” We could not have said it better ourselves.

The programs, support and resources were custom built to provide Orlando’s students with a positive place to continue to learn and grow, even after the school bell rings.

OCPS Academic Center for Excellence OCPS Academic Center for Excellence

Judges Comments

Positive impact on the community and good community use. Built to provide Orlando’s students with a positive place to continue to learn and grow.

Architect(s):

Baker Barrios Architects, Inc.
WAYNE DUNKELBERGER, PRINCIPAL+DESIGN DIRECTOR
407/926-3000

Featured

  • Enjoy Tax and Energy Savings with the Right Ceiling Solutions

    Thanks to recent innovations pairing mineral fiber ceiling panels with phase change material technology (PCM), architects, designers, facility managers, and other key players in construction and renovation projects are re-thinking the role ceilings play in supporting environmental objectives—especially energy savings.

  • PNSI Global Alliance Launches New Quality Assurance Certification

    PNSI Global Alliance, a network of technology integrators and service providers, recently introduced a new Quality Assurance Certification (QAC) for AV service and support, according to a press release. The two-day, interactive workshop QAC course is designed for Certified Solution Providers (CSPs) to provide them with the most up-to-date and advanced quality assurance knowledge available.

  • Active Learning Classroom

    Striking a Balance: The Keys to Renovating Science Education Buildings for the 21st Century

    The recent renovation of the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) provides a roadmap for facilities managers tasked with balancing budget constraints, modern pedagogical demands, and long-term sustainability.

  • a traditional red brick school building with the right side visibly deteriorated and the left side well-maintained, surrounded by neat landscaping

    Making the Grade: Navigating Funding Uncertainty in K-12 Schools

    School districts across the country must prepare for all possible funding scenarios by analyzing school asset and infrastructure conditions, understanding their funding needs, and developing a proactive maintenance strategy to stretch their funding dollars.

Digital Edition