• The new 100,000-square-foot Gladstone Elementary School in Cranston, R.I.,听consolidates听Gladstone and Arlington elementary schools and is designed for 798 students in grades K-5.听
• Finegold Alexander Architects organized the school around six Learning Communities rather than a traditional classroom-and-corridor layout.听
• Curiosity Centers connect the Learning Communities with dedicated music,听art听and maker spaces, while shared areas include a cafetorium, gymnasium and gathering stairs.听
• The design uses the existing site鈥檚 topography and solar orientation to support a compact footprint, natural听daylight听and views.听
• Student input helped shape an inclusive 鈥渢ree concept,鈥� with student artwork incorporated into lobby graphics and interior signage.听

CRANSTON, R.I. 鈥� Cranston, R.I., is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Sept. 17 to celebrate the new Gladstone Elementary School designed around collaborative learning rather than the conventional classroom-and-corridor model.听

Designed by Finegold Alexander Architects, the 100,000-square-foot Gladstone Elementary School will serve 798 students in kindergarten through fifth grade and听consolidate听the former Gladstone and Arlington elementary school communities.听

The project centers on six Learning Communities, each arranged as a connected suite of spaces with听different sizes听and uses. According to project materials from Finegold Alexander Architects, each community includes a听learning commons, learning studios, an active lab, a teacher collaboration听workroom听and small-group rooms. The approach is intended to support a more community-based, collaborative teaching model.听

Specialized Curiosity Centers link the Learning Communities on each floor. These areas include purpose-built music,听art听and makerspaces. Larger shared spaces include a first-floor cafetorium described as the school鈥檚 鈥淪ocial Heart,鈥� a lower-level gymnasium and gathering stairs that can accommodate informal seating and interaction among students,听staff听and families.听

The school also extends learning outdoors through three outdoor learning areas, multiple听playgrounds听and a community garden. Finegold Alexander says the building was positioned to work with the site鈥檚 challenging terrain, creating a compact footprint while听optimizing听solar orientation for daylight and views.听

Student participation also influenced the interior concept. Project background materials say fourth graders developed a 鈥淩adiating Respect鈥� project that helped inspire a welcoming and inclusive environment. The school is organized around a tree concept, with each floor听representing听a different part of the tree, and student artwork appears in entry lobby graphics and interior signage.听

鈥淭his is community (and) student-centered-driven from all aspects 鈥� It鈥檚 just such a great design,鈥� said Roxanne Gustafson, Executive Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Grants for Cranston Public Schools.听

Finegold Alexander also emphasized cost-conscious design decisions, including vertically stacking the learning community wings to create structural and mechanical efficiencies and using durable, low-maintenance masonry for much of the building envelope.听

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• Project:听MUSC College of Medicine Building听
• Location:听Charleston, S.C.听
• Size:听186,000 square feet听
• Estimated cost:听$175 million听
• Current milestone:听Topped out Aug.鈥�14, 2026听
• Opening:听Late 2027听
• Purpose:听First dedicated home for MUSC鈥檚 College of Medicine in more than 100 years听
• Key spaces:听Active-learning classrooms, study and relaxation areas, wellness spaces, faculty and alumni commons, offices, event听space听and caf茅听

CHARLESTON, S.C. 鈥�听The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has topped out its new College of Medicine building, marking a major construction milestone for the $175 million project in Charleston.听

Construction crews placed the final structural steel beam on Aug.鈥�14 during a ceremony attended by university leaders, project partners, faculty,听staff听and donors. The 186,000-square-foot facility will become the College of Medicine鈥檚 first dedicated home in more than 100 years and is scheduled to open in late 2027.听

The project is being developed in the heart of MUSC鈥檚 campus at the corner of Bee and President streets and is intended to centralize medical education, student services and academic leadership that are currently distributed among multiple campus buildings.听

Creating a New Hub for Medical Education听

Plans for the building emphasize flexible learning,听collaboration听and student support. Major components will include active-learning environments, large classrooms, student study and relaxation areas, wellness spaces, faculty and alumni commons, faculty and staff offices and the College of Medicine dean鈥檚 office. MUSC鈥檚 project information also听identifies听event space and a caf茅 among the planned amenities.听

Students and faculty contributed input to the building鈥檚 design, with the facility planned to provide flexibility and capacity to accommodate the college鈥檚 educational mission and future growth. MUSC recently welcomed 186 students into its College of Medicine Class of 2030.听

The new facility also responds to the challenges of operating without a dedicated College of Medicine building. Medical students currently share classrooms and study areas with students from MUSC鈥檚 five other colleges, while academic and student support personnel work across multiple buildings.听

鈥淭oday marks an exciting milestone and gets us one step closer to our goal of elevating the medical education experience for students, staff, faculty and alumni at MUSC,鈥� said Terrence E. Steyer, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for Medical Affairs.听

Part of Long-Term Campus Investment听

The College of Medicine building is part of MUSC鈥檚 long-term campus master plan and broader investment in facilities supporting education,听research听and patient care.听

MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, said bringing future physicians together in a dedicated environment is expected to strengthen collaboration while supporting the university鈥檚 education,听research听and healthcare missions.听

The approximately $175 million project, designed by SLAM in collaboration with Liollio Architecture and built by Thompson Turner Construction, is being funded through a combination of public and private sources. Construction is expected to conclude in time for a late 2027 opening.听

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• Project:听New Fort Pierce K-8 School听
• Location:听St.鈥疞ucie County, Fla.听
• Size:听215,000 square feet听across six buildings听
• Capacity:听Approximately 1,800 students听
• Architect:听Spiezle听Architectural Group听
• Construction Manager: The Morganti Group Inc.
• Key spaces:听Academic environments, gymnasium,听auditorium听and supporting facilities听
• Project goal:听Replace aging schools with a unified,听flexible听and resilient K-8 campus

LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. 鈥� St.鈥疞ucie Public Schools has broken ground on a new 215,000-square-foot K-8 campus in Fort Pierce designed to replace aging school facilities and create a modern learning environment for approximately 1,800 students.

District leaders joined project architect听Spiezle听Architectural Group and other members of the project team for a groundbreaking听ceremony听July 27. The new campus will听consolidate听students into a unified K-8 environment intended to serve families in the Fort Pierce community for generations.听

The project encompasses six buildings supporting academics,听recreation听and broader school community activities. Plans include contemporary instructional spaces as well as a gymnasium,听auditorium听and supporting facilities designed to accommodate students across multiple grade levels.听

Spiezle Architectural Group is providing design services for the project. The construction manager is The Morganti Group, Inc.

Creating a Flexible K-8 Environment听

The campus is听being designed听around听flexibility,听safety听and long-term adaptability. Academic and support spaces will accommodate the different developmental and educational needs of elementary and middle school students while connecting them within a single campus community.听

Resilience is also a听component听of the design, reflecting the importance of durable educational infrastructure in Florida and the district鈥檚 goal of creating a facility capable of serving the community over the long term.听

鈥淏reaking ground on the new Ft. Pierce K-8 School marks an exciting step forward for St.鈥疞ucie Public Schools and the families it serves,鈥� said Steven G. Siegel, AIA, LEED AP, principal at听Spiezle听Architectural Group. 鈥淭his campus is designed to help connect a learning community that will give 1,800 students safe, flexible and inspiring spaces to learn, grow and thrive.鈥�听

The new school continues an existing relationship between听Spiezle听and St.鈥疞ucie Public Schools focused on adaptable K-8 and K-12 learning environments.听

During the groundbreaking ceremony,听Spiezle听representatives presented St.鈥疞ucie Public Schools Superintendent Dr.鈥疛on R. Prince with a commemorative gold shovel recognizing the project milestone and collaboration between the district and project team.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly listed Wharton Smith as the construction manager on the project. The Morganti Group Inc. is the construction manager. 糖心少女 regrets this error.

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• Project:听Heights听CareerTech听Institute
• Location:听Fort Myers, Fla.
• Opening:听Aug.鈥�28, 2026
• Developer:听The Heights Foundation
• Architect:听RG Architects, P.A.
• MEP Engineer:听Matern Professional Engineering
• Programming:听Construction, automotive, marine, healthcare,听business听and other career fields
• Purpose:听Hands-on post-secondary training, industry-recognized听credentials听and workforce development
• Reach:听Expected to serve hundreds of students annually throughout Lee County and Southwest Florida

FORT MYERS, Fla. 鈥�听The Heights Foundation has opened the new Heights听CareerTech听Institute, a post-secondary training facility designed to expand access to skilled-trades education and workforce opportunities in Southwest Florida.听

The two-story institute opened Aug.鈥�28 and will provide hands-on training and industry-recognized credentials in high-demand career fields. Programs will prepare students for careers in construction, automotive, marine, healthcare,听business听and other industries with significant workforce needs throughout the region.听

Developed by the nonprofit Heights Foundation following years of planning, fundraising and community support, the institute is expected to serve hundreds of students annually from Lee County and surrounding communities. The facility is intended to connect students with career-focused educational opportunities while helping address regional demand for skilled workers.听

RG Architects, P.A. designed the facility, with Matern Professional Engineering providing full mechanical,听electrical听and plumbing engineering services.听

The building incorporates a combination of classroom and specialized technical-training environments to accommodate both academic instruction and hands-on learning. The project team designed the facility to support the varied infrastructure requirements of multiple career programs while providing a modern educational environment capable of adapting to workforce needs.听

鈥淎s engineers, we know the future of our industry depends on creating opportunities for the next generation to learn and develop meaningful careers,鈥� said Todd Griffith, PE, LEED AP BD+C, director of Matern Professional Engineering鈥檚 Southwest Florida division. 鈥淭he Heights听CareerTech听Institute represents an investment in future talent and the long-term success of the Southwest Florida community.鈥�听

Griffith added that access to hands-on training and industry credentials can provide students with more direct pathways into rewarding careers.听

The Heights Foundation developed the institute as part of a broader effort to increase educational opportunities, economic听mobility听and workforce readiness in Southwest Florida. By bringing career training programs together within a purpose-built facility, the organization aims to give students practical experience and credentials that align with regional employment opportunities.听

The new institute also comes as the architecture,听engineering听and construction industries continue to emphasize the importance of developing the next generation of skilled professionals. Its construction-focused training is among several programs intended to provide students with pathways into industries critical to Southwest Florida鈥檚 continued growth.听

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• Los Altos School District has started construction on a new 70,000-square-foot San Antonio Campus serving transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.听
• The six-building campus will include 29 classrooms, a library, gymnasium, multipurpose room, administration space, outdoorareas听and athletic fields.听
• Blach Construction and Quattrocchi Kwok Architectsare delivering听the project using the Folia Ecosystem, a customizable prefabricated building approach.听
• The City of Mountain View is contributing funding for a new two-acre public park and joint-use athletic fields and gymnasium.
• Completion is expected in fall 2028.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. 鈥斕齃os Altos School District has broken ground on a new San Antonio Campus in Mountain View, Calif., a project intended to add space for students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade as enrollment grows.听

The 70,000-square-foot campus is being delivered by Blach Construction and Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and is expected to be completed in fall 2028.听

Plans call for six buildings, outdoor learning and recreation areas, and athletic fields. The campus will include 29 classrooms, with dedicated spaces for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, along with an administration wing, library, gymnasium, multipurpose听room听and a restroom building serving the athletic fields.听

The district selected the Folia Ecosystem, a customizable prefabricated building solution developed by Blach Construction, Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and GPLA Structural Engineers. According to the supplied release, the system is intended to improve schedule and cost predictability while allowing the district to use adaptable one- and two-story structures for classroom, administrative and library functions. Separate multipurpose and gymnasium buildings are also planned.听

The project also emphasizes campus access, neighborhood听integration听and shared community use. Plans include dedicated bike lanes, updated parking听routes听and circulation improvements intended to support safer movement for students and families.听

Los Altos School District is working with the City of Mountain View on recreation components at the site. The city is contributing funding for a new two-acre public park, while the athletic fields and gymnasium are planned for joint use with the city.听

District officials said the campus听is听the result of several years of planning and collaboration. The project team also described the design as focused on flexible, student-centered learning environments and long-term adaptability.听

Los Altos School District serves students across nine schools in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain听View听and Palo Alto.听

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• Gensler has been selected as architect for Colfax Corner, a mixed-use research and office development in downtown South Bend, Indiana.
• The first phase will adaptively reuse the former South Bend Tribune building, which has been vacant since 2019.
• A new five-story research and office building is planned at Colfax Avenue and Main Street.
• The project will include approximately听202,000 square feet听of new and renovated innovation and research space, with about one-third planned for University of Notre Dame programs.
• A central courtyard, caf茅,听retail听and meeting spaces will connect the historic Tribune building with the new construction and provide public-facing gathering areas.

By Lindsey Coulter

SOUTH BEND, Ind. 鈥� Gensler has been selected as the architect for Colfax Corner, a mixed-use research and office development in South Bend.

The project, led by Ancora in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and the City of South Bend, will include the adaptive reuse of the former South Bend Tribune building and construction of a new five-story research and office building. The development is planned to provide approximately听202,000 square feet听of new and renovated innovation and research space.

The Tribune building, which has been vacant since 2019, served as the home of South Bend鈥檚 daily newspaper from 1921 to 2019. The Art Deco-era building has been nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Colfax Corner is intended to incorporate the existing building into a larger district focused on research,听entrepreneurship听and advanced industries.

Adaptive Reuse and New Construction

The first phase will center on the renovation and adaptive reuse of the Tribune building. A new five-story building at Colfax Avenue and Main Street will complement the historic structure and provide听additional听research and office space.

According to the project team, about one-third of the听202,000 square feet听will be occupied by Notre Dame for research,听innovation听and community engagement programs. The remaining space will be available to companies in fields including advanced computing, data听analytics听and artificial intelligence.

Gensler’s design approach draws from the Tribune building’s existing architecture while听establishing听a contemporary identity for the new construction. The Tribune’s facade and interior features will be听retained听as part of the adaptive reuse, while the new building will use proportions, vertical听elements听and materials that reference the historic structure.

The new building is planned with a terracotta-colored facade intended to relate to the brick of the Tribune building. A transparent bridge will connect the two structures while听maintaining听a visual distinction between听the historic听and contemporary buildings.

Courtyard Creates Central Gathering Space

The site design also includes a central courtyard that will serve as a shared arrival and gathering area. The courtyard will connect to caf茅, retail,听meeting听and lobby spaces and provide access听between听the buildings.

Anderson Bohlander, an Indiana-based landscape architecture firm, has been selected to lead the landscape design. Its work will focus on the courtyard and a mid-block entry intended to听establish听connections between the buildings and activate the ground level.

The project team said the design references the Tribune building’s historical role as a place where the public could听observe听the newspaper’s operations. When the Tribune opened in 1912, large plate-glass windows along Lafayette Street provided views into the building’s printing operations.

Research and Innovation Focus

Colfax Corner is planned as part of South Bend’s emerging Tech & Talent District. The development is expected to provide space for Notre Dame programs as well as private-sector companies whose research and development activities complement the university’s areas of expertise.

The project is also being developed in alignment with the city’s 2045 Master Plan, according to the project team.听The plan calls for continued investment in South Bend’s urban core and economic development.

“Design will define how this place feels and functions, creating an environment built for collaboration, discovery and long-term economic strength,” said Josh Parker, CEO of Ancora, in a statement.

Meghan Webster, Co-managing Director at Gensler Chicago, said the project will combine the Tribune building’s historic character with new uses and development.

“By reimagining the historic Tribune building and its surroundings, Colfax Corner will bring new life to an underused corner of downtown South Bend,” Webster said in a statement.

Shannon Cullinan, executive vice president at Notre Dame, said the project will provide space for research and employment while introducing dining and retail uses to the area.

Construction timing and听additional听project details were not included in the announcement.

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• The University of Rhode Island says close to 40 construction projects across its campuses are expected to be completed in time for the 2026-27 academic year.听
• A $99 million Fine Arts Center renovation is nearing completion, with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for Sept. 14.听
• Major longer-term work includes a $42 million renovation of Meade Stadium and a housing project that will add more than 1,100 beds by fall 2028.听
• URI is also advancing athletics, research, dining, infrastructure, roofing, HVAC, fire alarm and accessibility projects across the Kingston and Narragansett Bay campuses.听

KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� The University of Rhode Island (URI) is moving through a wide-ranging summer construction program that includes academic, athletic, housing, research and infrastructure projects across its campuses.听

According to 听close to 40 projects are expected to be completed before the 2026-27 academic year, according to URI鈥檚 Facilities Group. Among the most visible is the renovation of the 58-year-old Fine Arts Center in Kingston. The $99 million project includes a new 71,000-square-foot, three-story academic building with a theater lobby, art gallery, digital art and media areas, recording studios and modern classrooms. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Sept. 14.听

Athletics projects are also reshaping the Kingston Campus. Work on a new outdoor track and field complex is nearing completion as part of an $83 million overhaul of on-campus athletic facilities. The complex includes a nine-lane track, jumping runways, a separate throwing facility, a digital听scoreboard听and a grandstand with an accessible lift to a new press box.听

At Meade Stadium, crews are building the foundation for a new east grandstand and press box. The $42 million renovation is expected to be completed by fall 2027 and will add seating, an elevator-accessible press box, food-truck听space听and a new plaza entrance. URI football will play its 2026 home schedule at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket while construction continues.听

Housing expansion is underway along Flagg Road through a public-private partnership with Gilbane. The project includes two new residence halls and reconstruction of the Graduate Village Apartments. One residence hall is scheduled to open in fall 2027, and the three new residential facilities are expected to add more than 1,100 beds to the Kingston Campus by fall 2028.听

URI is also investing听at听its Narragansett Bay Campus. The new 32,000-square-foot Ocean Robotics Laboratory is complete and occupied, while the former Sheets Building has been demolished to make way for a new ocean engineering building with a large wave tank. Construction is also beginning on the Ocean Frontiers Building, which will replace听Horn听Laboratory with modern research labs.听

Additional听summer work includes dining hall renovations, roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, elevator improvements, structural repairs at the Steam Plant, wireless fire alarm installation and sidewalk and accessibility improvements.听Farm House听Road on the Kingston Campus will remain closed through听September听while underground steam pipeline work continues.

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• The Arthur A. Richards PreK-8 School opened Aug. 7 on St. Croix after a multiyear design and construction effort.听
• The 139,000-square-foot campus is designed for 735 students and replaces facilities damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.听
• The school includes 32 classrooms, three labs and maker spaces, shaded outdoor areas, a gymnasium that can serve as a storm shelter, onsite water听storage听and solar power.听
• The project is the first new school building constructed in the U.S. Virgin Islands in听nearly three听decades.听

By Lindsey Coulter

CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands 鈥� The new Arthur A. Richards PreK-8 School has opened on St. Croix, marking a major milestone in the U.S. Virgin Islands鈥� effort to replace and modernize public school facilities damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.The project is part of a multi-year, $264 million redevelopment effort.

鈥淭his is more than the opening of a new school,鈥� V.I. Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony听on听Aug.听7,听according to the听. 鈥淚t is听an听opening of a new chapter in education in the Virgin Islands. For more than 30 years, we have not built a new public facility of this听magnitude. Today, we are not simply catching up 鈥� we are setting the bar.鈥�听

The 139,000-square-foot campus, built on the site of the former Evelyn M. Williams Elementary School, is designed to serve 735 students. The project brought together MCN Build as builder, Perkins Eastman as architect of record and DLR Group as design criteria architect, with local firm听CariBuild听participating听on听the design-build team.听

Arthur A. Richards PreK-8 was designed around how students learn, feel safe, and grow. Small learning communities keep classrooms close-knit, while a dedicated early learning building serves the school’s youngest students. Shaded outdoor spaces, a central gathering area, and a gymnasium that doubles as a storm shelter support both everyday school life and community events. Thirty-two classrooms, three labs and maker spaces, and one-to-one laptops give students hands-on learning opportunities, while onsite water storage and solar power help the school reopen quickly after a major storm.听听

“From the beginning, our process was about listening 鈥� to the community, to the environment, to what students in St. Croix actually need from their school,鈥� said design leader Mary Rankin, AIA, Principal at Perkins Eastman, in a statement. 鈥淭o have gone from groundbreaking to ribbon-cutting in just two and a half years, without losing sight of that, is something the entire team should be proud of. This building was designed for these students, and it will serve them, and the community, for generations.”听

Turning that student-centered design into a finished school took the work of hundreds of local tradesmen and women. At its peak, the project employed 270 tradesmen and women at once, with听roughly 400听members of the total workforce drawn directly from the USVI labor pool.听听

“Every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and grow. This team gave St. Croix a school that makes that possible,” said Rudy Seikaly, Chief Executive Officer of MCN Build, in a statement.听

Resilience was also a central part of the project. Onsite water storage and solar power are intended to support continued operations and help the school reopen more quickly after a major storm. The project team described the campus as a model for high-performance educational design suited to Caribbean conditions.听

The opening gives St. Croix a new PreK-8 campus as the territory advances a broader school reconstruction program. The Arthur A. Richards project is the first newly constructed school building in the territory in听nearly three听decades and is now positioned to serve students,听families听and community activities for years to come.听

For DLR Group Senior Principal and K-12 Education Design Leader Pamela Loeffelman, FAIA, the opening carries听particular meaning.听听

“The grand opening for Arthur A. Richards PreK-8 School marks a significant milestone in the reimagination of what education can look like in the U.S. Virgin Islands,鈥� Loeffelman听said in a statement. 鈥淚t serves as the catalyst for the continued transformation we’ll see across the Islands for the next 10 years.”

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By Lindsey Coulter

The 糖心少女 Design + Construction Symposium brought education leaders, architects, designers, contractors, developers and facilities professionals together Aug. 5 at Denver鈥檚 historic Tivoli Turnhalle to examine how evolving needs are reshaping the design and delivery of K-12 and higher education environments.听

Held on the Auraria Campus, the event focused on project-driven discussions around student belonging, school safety, community engagement, mass timber, urban听development听and the increasingly compressed construction schedules facing school districts. The symposium was designed to move beyond broad industry trends and examine real projects and lessons that can be applied to future work.听

Designing for Belonging听

The program opened with a keynote from Dr. Drew Coleman, Chief of Schools for Jeffco Public Schools, who challenged attendees to consider the relationship between school environments, student听experience听and educational outcomes.听

Coleman鈥檚 presentation, 鈥淏uilding Belonging: Designing Schools Where Students Feel Safe Enough to Learn and Prepared Enough to Lead,鈥� examined how the physical environment can either support or hinder student success. His perspective connected education leadership, school听culture听and the built environment, reinforcing the symposium鈥檚 emphasis on designing schools around the needs of the people who use them.听

The keynote was followed by a district-level perspective from Micah Ali, president of Compton Unified School District. Ali discussed the development of Compton High School and the importance of trust,听continuity听and community partnerships in delivering major educational facilities projects.听

Born and raised in Compton, Ali played a foundational role in the development of听the high听school and has extensive experience in land use, development and partnerships aimed at expanding opportunities for students.听He also is helping guide the district’s upcoming Centennial and Dominguez Hills High School projects.听听

The discussion illustrated a broader theme that ran throughout the symposium: successful school construction is not simply about delivering a building, but about creating facilities that reflect community priorities and support long-term educational goals.听

Beyond Safety and Security听

The morning continued with a design panel examining how safety, security,听belonging听and well-being can coexist in school environments.听

Panelists听Erika Ashauer, Human Experience Research Lead for HCM鈥檚 PK-12 Studio; Joel Williams, Studio Director at QKA; Guy Grace, vice chair of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools; and Pat Tackney, Security & Architectural Sales Consultant for McGrory Glass Systems,听expanded the traditional definition of school safety beyond access control and security hardware. Panelists considered how visibility, privacy, supervision,听comfort听and a sense of belonging can influence the experience of students and staff.听

The discussion reflected a broader shift in school design toward environments that address both physical safety and the emotional and social conditions that help students learn.听

Summit House Provides a Case Study in Innovation听

After a networking break, the symposium shifted from K-12 schools to higher education and student听housing听with a case study听on听Metropolitan State University of Denver鈥檚 Summit House.听

Presented by听Martha Nelson, Director of Planning, Design and Construction for MSU Denver; Ben Diaz, Senior Development Manager for Columbia Ventures; Macy Huffaker, Project Architect with SAR+ Architects; Ryan Marshall 鈥� Superintendent at PCL Construction,听the听session, moderated by Leone Dick, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Administration at MSU Denver,听explored the planning,听design听and delivery of MSU Denver鈥檚 first residence hall.听

Summit House听represents听a significant milestone for the university and for Colorado construction. The 12-story student residence is being delivered using mass timber and is positioned to become the tallest mass-timber structure in the state. The project also incorporates an urban construction environment and a public-private delivery model. (糖心少女)听

Rather than focusing on mass timber as a standalone innovation, the presentation examined the combination of decisions and partnerships听required听to make the project possible. Those included material听selection, planning,听logistics,听development听and construction delivery.听

The case study also gave attendees a closer look at the increasingly complex role of construction teams working in dense urban environments and managing innovative structural systems.听

Racing the Summer Construction Clock听

The symposium concluded its formal program with a panel focused on one of the most persistent challenges in K-12 construction: delivering projects within the limited summer construction window.听

Moderated by Chuck Amos, CEO of听SchoolBondFinder, the panel featured David J. Henderson,听Deputy听Chief of听Operations for Cherry Creek School District, and Justin Sinnott,听Vice听President of听Corporate听Operations at Erickson-Hall.听

Dubbed 鈥淭he Summer Sprint,鈥� the discussion听addressed听planning, coordination, risk听management听and project delivery during the period when schools are vacant but must be ready for students when the new academic year begins.听

Henderson brought more than 25 years of K-12 construction and听facilities听leadership to the discussion, including oversight of approximately听2 million square feet听of capital improvement,听construction听and renovation projects across Colorado school districts.听Sinnott contributed experience in project planning, execution, risk management and operational efficiency.听

The panel underscored how compressed schedules are placing greater emphasis on early planning,听coordination听and delivery strategies that can reduce risk while听maintaining听quality.听

The topic also reflected broader pressures facing districts nationwide. 糖心少女 recently examined the 鈥淪ummer Sprint鈥� as an increasingly demanding period in which districts must complete everything from HVAC replacements and classroom renovations to larger capital projects before students return.听

From Conversation to Job Site听

Attendees also听had the opportunity to take the听morning鈥檚听discussion into the field with an exclusive tour of MSU Denver鈥檚 Summit House.听

The tour provided a firsthand look at the mass-timber residence hall and connected the project鈥檚 planning and delivery discussion with its physical construction. According to 糖心少女, the project听represents听the intersection of student housing demand, urban development, innovative听materials听and alternative approaches to project delivery.听

Across its sessions, the symposium emphasized a common challenge facing both K-12 and higher education: making increasingly complex capital investments serve long-term institutional and community goals.听

From Coleman鈥檚 examination of belonging to Ali鈥檚 discussion of community trust, the design panel鈥檚 exploration of safety and well-being, Summit House鈥檚 innovative delivery and the final panel鈥檚 focus on compressed construction schedules, the event demonstrated that the future of educational construction will require collaboration across disciplines.听

Rather than treating design, construction, operations and educational outcomes as separate considerations, the symposium brought those perspectives together around a shared question:听How can the industry create schools and campuses that are not only built successfully, but equipped to serve the people and communities who depend on them?听

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