Arizona Charter School Debuts Expansion, Renovations

Construction management firm Adolfson & Peterson (AP) and charter school network Candeo Schools announced recently that they have completed an extensive expansion and renovation project on Candeo North Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz. Work included the new construction of two buildings, cosmetic and structural renovations to existing facilities and updates to outdoor areas, and according to a press release, the project was finished three months ahead of schedule.

“AP has built schools in the Phoenix area for more than thirty years. When the pandemic hit, we collaborated closely with Candeo Schools, SPS+ Architects and local subcontractors to problem-solve many of the issues that other projects were experiencing,” said Scott Salyer, AP’s Vice President of Operations. “By working together, not only did we stick to the schedule, but we delivered the school three months early. We’re pleased with the outcome and confident the school’s additions and renovations leave it fully equipped to effectively educate and accommodate students in one of the fastest-growing suburbs of Phoenix.”

The project was completed in two phases. The first phase involved remodeling the existing administration building, renovating the courtyard, landscaping the playfield, painting and sealing concrete floors and expanding the playground. The second phase involved constructing two new buildings. The first measures in at 7,902 square feet and includes six new classrooms. The second, which covers 2,470 square feet, adds here more classrooms as well as a fire riser room, a mechanical room and an electrical closet.

“Our work with Adolfson & Peterson has been a smooth and impressive experience,” said Dr. Stephanie Musser, CEO and founder of Candeo Schools. “The care and responsiveness they have shown in meeting our school’s goals has been readily apparent from the start. The result is a customized, beautiful campus tailored to the needs of our community and our education program.”

The North Scottsdale Campus of Candeo Schools opened in August 2020. It serves students in grades K–8 and aims to provide a knowledge-based, classical liberal arts education.

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.

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.