Florida Retirement Community to Expand K–8, High Schools

The Villages in Central Florida, one of the largest retirement communities in the nation, recently announced the expansion of The Villages Charter School to include new facilities for its high school, K–8 school, and Early Learning Center, according to a news release. The schools serve children of residents who work at various businesses within the community. The community is partnering with Matern Professional Engineering for the project’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services, the news release reports.


Photo courtesy of Wharton Smith

Upgrades to the high school will include a four-story media tower; a sports complex; theater; and specialized classrooms for computer science, fine arts, business, and engineering, the news release reports, for a total of 383,961 square feet. The K­–8 school will cover 247,946 square feet and include distinct spaces for elementary-aged and middle-school-aged students. The sports complex will feature facilities for football, basketball, swimming, and more.

“We are excited to contribute to a project that will provide unparalleled educational facilities for this community,” said Tad Rivenbark, Director of the Matern Construction Administration Department. “Our team is focused on delivering innovative engineering solutions that meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability. This project is a testament to our commitment to excellence and our dedication to supporting the communities we serve.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Construction Begins on New University Research Vessel

    Boat-building company All American Marine recently announced that it has begun construction on a new catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas, Texas, according to a news release.

  • Arlington High School

    Arlington High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Arlington High School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.