Ryan Companies Announces Slate of Charter School Projects Across Southeastern U.S.

Commercial real estate solutions provider Ryan Companies U.S., Inc., recently announced that it has completed four charter schools in the southeastern United States in time for the 2023–24 academic year. The schools add up to a total of 203,000 square feet of new construction and represent a national trend of school districts updating and expanding their charter school options, according to a news release. The firm also has plans to launch five more similar projects within the next few weeks that will total an additional 250,000 square feet.

“Our track record of success and our unique ability as a firm to provide start-to-finish guidance on development has established Ryan as a trusted partner among charter school operators,” said Ryan Companies’ Vice President of Real Estate Development, Max Bosso. “With K–12 decision makers having to navigate unfamiliar challenges, such as material delays and lender constraints, we’ve made it our mission to help them approach these issues in a way that keeps progress flowing and maintains on-time and within-budget delivery. We are proud to build the classrooms of tomorrow, which play an integral role in promoting stability and prosperity for the surrounding communities in each of these school districts.”

The press release reports that the four completed projects include the expansion of Innovation Prep Middle School in Wesley Chapel, Fla.; the expansion of Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy in Youngsville, La., a newly built Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.; and a newly built College Preparatory Academy at Wellen Park in North Port, Fla.

The facilities include various amenities like community classrooms and collaborative work spaces, breakout rooms, gymnasiums and athletic fields, science labs and art rooms, music and performing arts spaces, and multi-purpose rooms.

The five projects set to begin this year include the expansion of Nashville Collegiate Prep Middle School in Antioch, Tenn.; the expansion of the Acadiana Sports Complex in Youngsville, La.; expansion of the Winthrop Charter School and Early Learning Center in Riverview, Fla.; the expansion of Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy High School in Youngsville, La.; and a newly built Rutherford Collegiate Prep in Gibson County, Tenn.

“Many of these charter schools have long wait lists, so they’re looking to grow their footprints to serve more students,” said Bosso. “From turning one-story schools into two-story schools to incorporating more adaptable spaces to accommodate future needs, we are engaged in all kinds of projects to improve capacity—and quickly. We have never delivered a school project late, which has enhanced our reputation in the regions we operate and enabled our activity in the sector to flourish.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • 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.