Add as a preferred source on Google

Laredo ISD Provides Updates on $100M in District Construction Projects

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/20/23

The Board of Trustees for the Laredo Independent School District in Laredo, Texas, recently received updates on a series of district construction projects totaling about $100 million, according to local news. Ongoing projects include a new academic wing for Cigarroa High School, a replacement facility for Cigarroa Middle School, a new library for Heights Elementary School, and construction of the new Kawas Elementary School.

According to Assistant Superintendent for Plant Facilities and Support Services Angel E. Velazquez, the new academic wing at Cigarroa High School will soon finish construction of Phase 1, which will house the campus’ core instruction areas. After the completion of Phase 1, demolition of the former instruction wings will begin to clear space for Phase 2, which entails the campus’ vocational shops, according to local news. The project cost an estimated $21 million and is scheduled for completion in late August 2023.

Meanwhile, the district is also planning a new, ground-up facility for Cigarroa Middle School. “This brand-new campus will replace completely the existing facility and will include instructional classrooms, fine art areas, cafeteria, two gymnasiums, special education units, and all required administration areas,” said Velazquez. The project cost $55 million and will be completed in March 2025.

The library at Heights Elementary School saw renovations to include four additional classrooms necessitated by increased enrollment, said Velazquez. The renovation project cost $3 million and will be completed by next month.

Finally, the district is constructing a new elementary school, Kawas Elementary School. “We are currently in the process of completing the construction of the new Kawas Elementary Campus,” said Velazquez. “The total cost of this brand-new facility is $16.4 million and is expected to be substantially completed by October 2023. The scope of work includes classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria, and administration areas. The existing early childhood area was kept due to its good condition and will be seamlessly connected to the new building, improving the overall security of the facilities.”

Funding for all four projects comes from a 2018 Bond series election approved by LISD taxpayers, local news reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Recent University of Pennsylvania Projects Receive LEED Certifications

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently announced that three of its recent construction projects have earned LEED certifications, according to university news. The Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) received a LEED Platinum certification, Amy Gutmann Hall a LEED Gold, and the OTT Center for Track and Field a LEED silver.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

  • Missouri State University Debuts Construction Education Center

    Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., recently opened a new 10,000-square-foot addition and renovation to support the School of Construction, Design, and Project Management, according to university news. The Construction Education Success Center, built onto the existing Kemper Hall, provides academic space for the school’s construction managers and cost $9.6 million.

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.

Digital Edition