Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

New Texas High School Faces Rising Construction Costs

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 10/17/19

Construction on Frisco ISD’s newest high school began this summer amidst rising costs of building materials and labor shortages. These challenges led to a $13 million project increase for the newly named Emerson High School, putting the total to about $111.6 million, reported the Dallas Morning News.

Various factors contributed to the higher price tag of the school but one of the greatest factors is the state’s worker shortage due to immigration policies and lack of specialized workers. A recent survey from the Associated General Contractors of America found that about 80 percent of contractors nationwide reported difficulties finding craft workers to hire.

In addition, immigrants make up nearly half of the Dallas area’s jobs in construction, according to a new study by the New American Economy. But latest immigration policies have contributed to a shortage of workers. Due to Frisco’s rapid growth, the school has had to compete for workers against other construction industries.

The rising cost of materials, like lumber and steel, impacted the 14 percent increase of the school as well, a spokeswoman for Frisco ISD told Dallas Morning News. The district also tacked on about $4 million worth of additional features that weren’t in the original school plans, including synthetic turf athletic fields, a paved marching band field and security features.

Emerson High School is funded through the 2014 bond program and set to be completed in 2021.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • URI Cuts Underwater Ribbon on New Ocean Robotics Laboratory

    The University of Rhode Island recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, according to a news release. Two students used a remotely operated vehicle to cut an underwater ribbon in a 30-by-20-foot test tank.

  • Missouri Child Development Center Completes $2.3M Expansion

    The Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, Mo., recently announced the completion of a $2.3-million expansion and adaptive reuse project, according to a news release. The new space includes a retail café, outdoor learning space, and a support office building.

  • Houston-Area High School Receives Best Project Award from ENR

    Tomball West High School near Houston, Texas, recently received a K–12 Education Best Project Award in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 Texas & Southeast Best Projects Awards, according to a press release. The new facility was completed in May and opened its doors to students for the fall 2026 semester.

  • St. Lucie County, Fla., Breaks Ground on New K–8 School

    St. Lucie Public Schools in St. Lucie County, Fla., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new K–8 school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., for the design of the upcoming Ft. Pierce K–8 School, which comprises six buildings covering 215,000 square feet.