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

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Minnesota District Starts Construction on Early Childhood Learning Center

    Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools in Sauk Rapids, Minn., recently announced that construction has begun on a new early childhood learning center and a new outdoor activities complex, according to a news release.

  • Texas Recruitment

    Texas Recruitment

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Recruitment has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • abstract illustration of school gym

    How the Gymnasium Can Serve as a Model for Learning Space Design

    Multipurpose gyms work because flexibility was built into the brief from the start, not retrofitted later. The same logic applies to academic spaces.