Florida Elementary School Sees Near-Total Rebuild

Matern Professional Engineering recently announced that work is almost complete on the redevelopment of an elementary school in Fort Myers, Fla., according to a news release. Every building except one on the campus of Franklin Park Elementary School was demolished and replaced with modern facilities. The school was originally built in 1958. The remaining building has been renovated into a shared Media & Community Center, the news release reports.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for August 5th, and the new facility is on track to open its doors to students in time for the 2024–25 academic year. It will have the capacity for 579 students in grades K–5, as well as 100 students in a separate Pre-K building.

“We are proud to help provide these much-needed services to Lee County’s students and families. This underutilized school has an entirely new identity,” said Todd Griffith, Matern’s Sr. Vice President and Director of Southwest Florida. “It is our privilege to work within the southwest Florida community and provide innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for education, healthcare and safety.”

The building was designed to incorporate 21st-century learning principles and features amenities like a community center, hurricane shelter, and community-wide services. The school district partnered with RG Architects for the project’s design, according to the news release.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.

  • Photo courtesy of Kraus-Anderson

    Concordia College Completes Memorial Auditorium Renovations

    Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., recently completed a $2.5-million renovation project to Memorial Auditorium, a news release reports. The college partnered with Kraus-Anderson for the project’s construction and ICON Architectural Group for its design.

  • Minnesota District Completes Renovations to 3 Schools

    South Washington County Schools in Woodbury, Minn., recently completed major renovation projects to three of its schools, according to a news release. The district partnered with Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and the upgrades were part of a larger referendum that voters approved in fall 2024.

  • Auburn University Debuts $224M STEM + Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., recently opened its new $224-million STEM + Agricultural Sciences Complex, the largest research construction project in the university’s history, according to university news. The facility measures more than 265,000 square feet and brings six departments from the College of Agriculture and College of Sciences and Mathematics together under one roof.