The Room to Move Series Sit-to-Stand Workstation Wedge Top with Accessory Tray by Virco is designed to support flexible learning environments by allowing users to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. The workstation features a lever-operated pneumatic height adjustment with a range of 29 to 42 inches and a 26-by-41-inch wedge-shaped high-pressure laminate work surface. A tubular steel frame and locking casters allow the unit to be repositioned as needed within classrooms or collaborative spaces. The integrated accessory tray includes a tablet slot, cup holders and pencil holders to help organize frequently used items. Optional accessories such as a tote tray, pencil drawer and modesty panel are also available, providing additional storage and functionality for a variety of educational settings.

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Winebrenner has spent much of his career as a K-12 practice leader. His work has included school projects grounded in community dialogue, along with long-range master planning that balances today’s needs with tomorrow’s flexibility. He has also opened and grown architecture offices, including an education studio that grew from six employees to more than 50 people across three Mid-Atlantic locations.听

Winebrenner holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in听fine arts听from the College of William & Mary. He is licensed to practice architecture in 15 states and the District of Columbia, holds NCARB certification, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He is also a Recognized Education Facility Planner through the Association for Learning Environments.听

“Peter listens to school districts first, then designs,” said听, K-12 sector leader at Moseley, in a statement. “This approach has helped him build K-12 practices from the ground up, and it is exactly what we want as we grow in Charlotte.”听

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• 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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By Justin Sinnott

With decades of local experience and a diverse portfolio, Erickson-Hall Construction Co. continues to set the standard for building world-class educational facilities across Southern California. And while summer typically signals a quiet period on school campuses, this is when the San Diego-based firm steps into its busiest, high-energy season: the annual 鈥淪ummer Sprint.鈥�听

During a tight, eight-week window, Erickson-Hall delivers major infrastructure improvements across multiple district sites before the school year begins. By making the most of the summer months, Erickson-Hall听is able to听upgrade campuses with minimal disruption to students and staff. As the firm gears up for another summer sprint in 2026, it is building off the momentum of several recently completed milestone projects. These large-scale builds听showcase听Erickson-Hall’s deep听expertise听in design-build, construction听management听and multi-phase modernizations.听

Erickson-Hall鈥檚 delivery of brand-new Upper Athletic Fields at Beverly Hills High School in March marked a major milestone in Beverly Hills Unified School District鈥檚 multi-phased campus transformation. This ambitious design-build project required upgrading aging recreational infrastructure while carefully听maintaining听the school鈥檚 historic character. The scope of work included the construction of brand-new tennis courts, a lighted softball field, comprehensive utility improvements,听retaining听walls and a permanent modular restroom building 鈥� delivering a dynamic environment for the district鈥檚 3,300 students.听

With a similar focus on multi-use athletic spaces, Erickson-Hall also unveiled the听state-of-the-art听Wiseburn Sports Complex for Wiseburn Unified School District in April. Designed to function as both an athletic engine for student-athletes and a cornerstone for local youth sports organization events, the complex integrates fields for Little League baseball, high school听softball听and youth soccer. More than upgrades to playing surfaces, the scope of work extended to player and spectator amenities, including new dugouts, batting cages, scoreboards, upgraded parking and a full concession building with modern restrooms. These facilities are backed by heavy infrastructure upgrades including underground utilities, irrigation,听fencing听and low-voltage systems.听听

Shifting focus from athletics to the arts, in April, Erickson-Hall also cut the ribbon on a new Center for the Arts at Hesperia High School in San Bernardino County. This project听represented听a significant investment in the school鈥檚 arts education, providing modern, high-capacity spaces designed for student learning, professional听development听and community engagement. At the heart of this 40,500-square-foot versatile hub is a 500-seat performance stage and a flexible multi-purpose area. To accommodate the new facility, the project team also managed broader campus adjustments, including the relocation of existing tennis courts, alongside landscaping and surrounding site improvements to enhance the general campus environment.听听听听

The seamless delivery of these projects highlights Erickson-Hall’s strong focus on preconstruction and early planning. Engaging corporate expertise early provides school districts and civic leaders with听constructibility听reviews and cost-saving strategies that eliminate expensive surprises and delays down the road.听听

Ultimately, navigating these complex, multi-phase builds听requires听deep trust and transparent communication among owners,听architects听and subcontractors. As an employee-owned company, this collaborative spirit is built directly into Erickson-Hall鈥檚 culture. Every team member has a stake in the firm鈥檚 success, translating a personal commitment to quality into tangible, high-efficiency results for clients.听听听

This dedication to community-driven excellence is fully on display as Erickson-Hall works on this year鈥檚 Summer Sprint, which is well underway. The firm is carrying this momentum forward to build the next generation of spaces where Southern California communities can thrive.听

About Erickson-Hall Construction Co.听

Celebrating 28 years of excellence in the construction industry, Erickson-Hall is a recognized industry leader,听having completed听over $4.9 billion in successful construction projects, of which $4.3 billion has been for K-12 and higher education developments.听听The employee-owned company has been serving the Southern California markets of San Diego, Imperial, Orange, South Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties since 1998. Services include preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, design-build, progressive design-build, design assist-build, lease-leaseback听and program management for educational, fire, essential services, civic, parks, recreation, faith-based, office and healthcare facilities. The company has an award-winning portfolio of completed projects and has received听numerous听awards for safety. For more information, visit听. Find us on LinkedIn and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.听听鈥�听

Justin Sinnott is Vice President of Corporate Services听at Erickson-Hall Construction.听听

See this article featured in the Design & Construction issue of 糖心少女, available now.

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By Jennifer Tulley

A place where movement, reflection, and community converge, the new Wellness, Athletic听& Aquatics听Center for Convent & Stuart Hall, designed by TEF, advances the mission of a Sacred Heart education through its focus on students鈥� total development.听听Centrally located along one of the City鈥檚 major east west corridors, the 66,000-square-foot, four-story complex is designed to integrate wellness into the daily life of roughly 1,200 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, while expanding athletic, physical education and gathering spaces for the school community.听听

Founded in 1887, Convent & Stuart Hall is an independent K-12 school rooted in the Sacred Heart tradition of Catholic education, offering an educational model that听utilizes听both single-sex and coeducational learning environments. Across all grade levels, instruction is anchored by a common curricular commitment to educating the whole student: 鈥渕ind, body and spirit.鈥� Expanding the school鈥檚 athletic facilities to meet current and future program demands is an institutional initiative focused on elevating students’ physical and holistic development. Together, these pedagogical and strategic goals, along with a sensitivity to the compelling student mental health crisis nationwide, led to the project鈥檚 conceptualization.听

Maximizing Program on a Constrained Site听

Despite the fortune of finding a location roughly within a mile of the school鈥檚 two campuses, with front door access to public transit, a number of notable site constraints added to the project鈥檚 complexity. The Center had to be designed around an existing two-story mixed-used building at the northeast corner of the property.听听The rest of the site, occupied by a concrete structure originally designed as a car showroom, proved infeasible for reuse, given the compact site and substantial scale of the project鈥檚 main program components: a gymnasium and natatorium, stacked one above the other, as well as educational spaces.听

The new Center is organized around these three program zones. The partially-below grade natatorium supports swim instruction for all ages, with aquatics programming including competition swimming, water polo, and more. Above it, the double height gymnasium provides a collegiate-size court and seating for more than 500 spectators.听听Instructional spaces 鈥� for fitness, nutrition, meditation and wellness education 鈥� are adjacent to the gym. In addition, an enclosed rooftop turf field further expands the school鈥檚 athletic program. 听

The sloped site, while not uncommon to the City鈥檚 infamous topography, also affected the entry elevation and exiting strategy. The natatorium was carefully designed to be sufficiently below grade in order to meet code-requirements for ground-level egress of younger students, with three general exits at pool level and two additional stairs dedicated to kindergarten through second grade students.听听

Harnessing Daylight听

Natural light was a critical priority. Studies continue to validate the importance of daylight to improving sleep, concentration, physical performance, and overall well-being of students and athletes alike. Ample glazing across the building鈥檚 entire north, street-front facade brings abundant daylight into the building. Its expression of horizontal bands 鈥� featuring a meaningful pattern language of glass and aluminum panels on the first and third levels 鈥� articulate the Center鈥檚 three primary program zones, while providing a balance of visibility and privacy. Glazing along the interior walls

overlooking the gymnasium and natatorium also pull essential daylight into the large internal volumes, the latter enhanced by听additional听skylights along the west side of the building. Educational spaces are strategically听located听along the building鈥檚 perimeter to maximize exposure to daylight and the surrounding neighborhood.听听听

Generous circulation corridors featuring furniture and seating options encourage informal human connection while flexible academic spaces听support a听variety of social activities.听听

Nurturing Connection and Belonging听

Transparency also plays a key role in connecting the life of the school to the city and students to each other. According to the , creating an environment where students feel seen, included, and part of a community is essential to supporting mental health and听well being. The welcoming lobby, flexible gathering areas, and range of uses are some of the design features that reduce isolation and strengthen social relationships that are closely tied to emotional well-being, resilience, and school engagement.听

The Center鈥檚 built-in flexibility, to accommodate large assemblies and informal gatherings, strengthens connections across the student body and the broader school community. Generous circulation zones integrate a variety of furniture and seating options to encourage informal interaction and peer support, while visual and physical connection through transparency between major program spaces facilitate shared experiences. Providing an array of spaces for diverse modes of interaction was also a priority. Spaces like the classroom with a demonstration kitchen and the studio for yoga, dance, and meditation provide students with a multitude of options. When students can choose how and where to connect, the building can support individual social confidence and community building. 听

Environmentally Responsible, Connected to Nature听

The LEED Gold targeted, all electric building leverages biophilic and sustainable design strategies to听optimize听student health.听The design team prioritized biophilic warmth听through the use of听wood and organic forms in the development of the Center鈥檚 interiors.听Curved walls intuitively guide circulation around major program areas, and a muted, nature-inspired color palette, originating from nearby landscape elements including ocean, sand, and听sky, support听a calm backdrop to the diverse activity within the building.听听听听

Indoor air quality, essential to health and comfort 鈥� and a notorious design challenge for natatoriums across the city鈥檚 microclimates 鈥� was a critical factor. A robust mechanical and electrical system exhausts chloromines from the deck level and leverages heat recapture, to warm the pool only at night, allowing it to gradually cool down during the day to conserve energy. Additional green features include solar panels, two bioretention areas, one elevated on the first floor, as well as rooftop plantings to slow stormwater drainage. The majority of interior materials are red list free or approved and have EPDs (environmental product declarations) and/or HPDs (health product declarations). 听

The project is slated for听completion听2029.听听

Jennifer Tulley is Principal In Charge at TEF Design.

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By Lindsey Coulter听

School restrooms have long been viewed as purely functional spaces, but educators, architects and administrators are increasingly recognizing that听restroom design can听have an outsized impact on safety,听wellness听and the overall student听experience. Rather than focusing solely on gender inclusion, many districts are rethinking restroom design as an opportunity to improve comfort,听privacy听and supervision听for all users.听

That shift is prompting architects to move beyond traditional multi-stall restroom layouts in favor of designs that create greater openness in shared spaces while offering significantly more privacy where students need it most.听Prompted in part by the AIA鈥檚听鈥淚nclusive restrooms & locker rooms in K-12 schools鈥� report听from听2024,听more education leaders and design partners are听reimagining听these critical spaces to offer听a more dignified approach to the traditional听restroom听experience听that also nets听better student health outcomes.听

Rethinking the Restroom听

According to Joel Williams,听Studio Director for Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) in the firm鈥檚 Castle Rock, Colo., office,听the conversation has evolved well beyond accommodating specific student populations.听

“Restrooms are one of the most challenging spaces on a school campus,听from the student听experience standpoint and from the supervision standpoint,” Williams said. “It’s not a space听that听administrators can easily moderate. The bad stuff that happens on听a campus听often happens in a restroom.”听

For Williams, the discussion begins with a simple question: Are school restrooms actually serving students?听He often听references Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs when discussing restroom design with听education听clients.听Before students can fully engage academically, they must first feel physically safe and comfortable meeting their most basic needs.听

“Having things like air, food, water, shelter, sleep and clothing are foundational, and I think bathrooms fit in that layer,鈥� Williams said.听鈥淲hen students听avoid听using听the bathroom at school, that’s a very clear sign that it’s a problem.”听

Stakeholder engagement sessions reinforce that conclusion. When Williams asks students,听parents听and teachers to describe school restrooms, the responses听often include words such as “smelly,” “dirty,” “dark,”听and听“sketchy.鈥澨齎aping,听bullying听and general discomfort are听also听recurring concerns.听

Balancing Privacy听With听Supervision听

The greatest design challenge lies in balancing two competing priorities: creating听enough听privacy for students while听maintaining听enough visibility to discourage inappropriate behavior.听Rather than hiding the entire restroom behind a single door, many newer concepts shift openness deeper into听the space. Shared handwashing areas become visible from adjacent corridors, while individual toilet rooms are enclosed with full-height walls and doors听for more visual and acoustic privacy.听听

Because the shared areas听remain听visible, staff members no longer听have to听enter enclosed restroom spaces to听monitor听activity. Students moving in and out naturally create听additional听accountability, while security cameras can听monitor听circulation zones without compromising privacy inside the toilet rooms.听

The approach also addresses newer concerns such as digital bullying. Traditional partitions leave gaps above, below and beside stalls that can expose occupants to unwanted photography or harassment. Full-height compartments听largely eliminate听those vulnerabilities.听

Small Details Can Improve Comfort听

Beyond the overall layout, Williams believes听seemingly minor听design decisions can significantly improve the user experience.听Things like听door hardware听and听occupancy听indicators听to reassure users that the door is secured听contribute to reducing anxiety.听听

Accessibility is another opportunity to improve restroom functionality.听

Williams advocates听for听including sinks within larger accessible toilet rooms. While originally intended to serve wheelchair users, these spaces can also provide听additional听privacy for students dealing with medical conditions, menstrual听hygiene听or other personal needs.听

“It’s about providing space that accommodates other people who need whatever special considerations they may have on that particular visit,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭hat’s an example of how we can make these spaces better for听everybody.”听

Read the full article in the Design & Construction issue of 糖心少女, available now.

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鈥淪teven鈥檚 project management听expertise听has contributed significantly to Norco鈥檚 growth throughout the greater New York area, East Coast and Florida over the last year, particularly in the K-12 and higher education market sectors. I look forward to Steven鈥檚 continuing contributions to both our company and the success of our clients鈥� projects,鈥� said Norco CEO and President Norman O. Rijo in a statement.听

Gargano first joined the firm in听2025 and听is currently working on the听Stonybrook University pre-engineered campus warehouse in Stony Brook,听N.Y.,听and renovation of the Nassau BOCES Theater at Long Island High School for the Arts in Syosset, N.Y.听

Gargano holds a Bachelor of Science in听construction听management from Farmingdale State College and is OSHA 30-hour certified, along with holding multiple site safety and trade-related certifications. Prior to joining Norco, he served as project manager for several large contracting firms in the greater New York area. His experience spans ground-up and renovation work in the commercial,听institutional听and public sectors, as well as pre-engineered metal buildings.听

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By Lindsey Coulter听

HMC Architects听recently welcomed听Oliver Nicolas听to听the firm鈥檚 PreK-12 practice as听Principal-in-Charge.听

With a dual foundation in architecture and civil engineering,听Nicolas听brings more than 23 years of experience delivering impactful PreK鈥�12, healthcare, and residential projects. He also spent听six years at a structural engineering firm and as a specification sales representative for a wood manufacturing company, giving him a comprehensive perspective on efficiently managing and delivering school construction projects.听听

鈥淢y background gives me a unique perspective on design and delivery,鈥� Nicolas said. 鈥淯nderstanding structural engineering and听available materials influences how I view听a space. Everything we design must be buildable, so as I design,听I鈥檓听already thinking about how structural and architectural elements will be attached and how important detailing is in construction.鈥�听

Based in the firm鈥檚 Ontario, Calif.,听studio, Nicolas will work closely with district clients across Southern California, ensuring strong collaboration and听a seamless听client experience. Drawing on more than two decades of experience guiding projects from design through construction administration and certification, he will provide strategic oversight to align project goals with client priorities throughout the project lifecycle.听

Nicolas spoke with 糖心少女听about听regional trends, how districts are听approach听deferred maintenance projects and听how听early collaboration can help听prevent problems later in the project lifecycle.听

SCN:听What makes working within an existing school building particularly challenging,听and where do you see the greatest opportunities for creative design?听

Nicolas:听Renovations challenge designers because existing buildings impose strict听parameters. We听must deliver听everything the client needs within听a听confined space.听I听once worked with a healthcare client to听develop听a tiny听ADA听code-compliant single-user restroom. Due to space limitations, we听couldn’t听expand听and听had to find every听opportunity听to听meet code听within the tight space.听Schools face these听same听challenges,听and听I听find that the spaces that seem the听smallest听are the听most challenging听to work听within yet听provide听amazing opportunities for success.听

SCN:听Across Southern California, what are you hearing听most听frequently听from school districts about their facility needs and priorities right now?听

Nicolas:听Our听district clients are most听concerned about听declining enrollment and how听to听repurpose听underutilized or aging spaces.听Schools don鈥檛听want to听sell听extra听property,听finding new uses for these spaces听will be听one of the biggest challenges, and opportunities, for听school architects听in the near future.听Districts are also听exploring听ways to serve diverse community needs with workforce housing, wellness spaces, and other shared use spaces.听This听approach听raises听important questions about听after-school access,听operations听and maintenance听鈥斕齛nd how to open听the campus to the听wider听community听while听maintaining听student safety.听听

SCN:听Many districts are balancing aging facilities and deferred maintenance with limited funding. How should districts think strategically about modernization versus new construction?听

Nicolas:听Before a district focuses on repurposing underutilized or aging spaces,听it should听start with a听comprehensive,听long-term听facilities听masterplan. The planning process should听evaluate听each school site听in its full context, considering听existing conditions,听educational adequacy, adaptability, and total cost of ownership, rather than relying solely on a building鈥檚 age.听听Modernization is often a smart investment when听a听structure has good bones and can be transformed听to meet the听district鈥檚 needs. New construction should be considered听when the existing site听or building limitations prevent the district from achieving its goals.听

SCN:听What are some of the biggest misconceptions about what can听鈥斕齩r cannot听鈥斕齜e听accomplished听within an existing school building or site?听

Nicolas:听The听biggest misconceptions about working within an听existing听space are听that听it is听expensive or听tearing it down听is easier.听However,听I鈥檝e听seen that working within an听existing听space听often costs less,听promotes听sustainability,听and听produces听magnificent learner-focused spaces. Architects听can听make something out of听anything. If听the district has a vision,听architects are savvy enough to听come up with听a solution.听When听we think creatively and look at a space in its full context,听we can听always听come up with听something听that achieves the client鈥檚 vision.听听

SCN:听With your experience on the construction and materials side, what are some of the decisions architects and districts can make earlier in the process that have the greatest impact on cost,听constructability听and schedule?听

Nicolas:听It鈥檚听important that architects and designers understand that cost escalation is a major听issue, and听we must听deliver the project sooner听rather听than later听to help clients save time and money.听It鈥檚听important to find the right balance of听the program,听materials听and construction type.听For example,听I know听building听with听wood听might present听an听up-front听savings听compared to steel.听However,听with an efficient design and construction strategy, steel can听also help听reduce听timelines and听the听overall budget.听When听we听involve听every voice听鈥斕齞istricts,听community听and builders听鈥斕齟arly in听our thought process,听we can听speed up the听process听and create a visionary project on time and within budget.听听

SCN:听How can architects improve collaboration among districts, contractors,听engineers听and other project partners early enough to prevent problems later in the project lifecycle?听

Nicolas:听At HMC Architects,听we engage clients听and partners in听a听multi-day听immersive design process.听During the day,听we host interactive workshops听and brainstorming sessions听with听all interest holders.听After hours,听our听design team听works on听a听preliminary听design based on听these conversations. We听reconvene with the full team听to听refine the design.听This approach听allows us to resolve听issues that often take weeks or months to settle in a week or less.听When we bring听everyone together听early,听we听see听the听best solutions to problems,听identify听previously unrecognized听opportunities, and allow听everyone to see the project develop in real听time.听听

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By Michael听Bucalo, President & Owner, Friedrich Watkins Construction听

Higher education campuses rarely have the luxury of shutting down for construction. Libraries remain filled with students preparing for exams. Faculty continue teaching and conducting research. Staff maintain daily operations. Yet across the country, colleges and universities are investing heavily in modernizing aging facilities to meet evolving academic, technological and student needs.听

For contractors and campus leaders alike, the challenge is no longer simply completing a project on time and within budget. Success is measured by how well construction teams minimize disruption while听maintaining听a safe, functional environment for everyone who continues to use the building.听Working on occupied educational facilities has reinforced an important lesson: construction planning must begin with the people who rely on听the space听every day.听

Start With the Campus Experience听

Every educational facility serves a different purpose. A library operates differently than a science building, student union, or athletic facility. Before construction begins, project teams should understand how students, faculty, visitors and staff interact with the building throughout the day.听

Questions such as peak occupancy times, critical academic schedules, special events, and accessibility concerns should all be addressed during preconstruction planning 鈥� not after work begins.听When contractors understand how a building functions, they can develop phasing plans that reduce unnecessary interruptions and allow the institution to continue听operating听as smoothly as possible.听

Communication Is as Important as Construction听

One of the most overlooked aspects of occupied campus renovations is communication.听

Project owners, facilities teams, contractors, subcontractors, faculty, and campus leadership all need clear expectations before work begins. Regular updates help minimize confusion, reduce frustration and allow departments to prepare for temporary changes.听

Simple communication tools, including weekly planning meetings, updated construction schedules, clear signage, and designated points of contact often prevent small issues from becoming significant operational challenges.听The goal is not only to keep the project moving but also to听maintain听confidence among everyone affected by the work.听

Safety Extends Beyond the Jobsite听

Occupied campuses require contractors to think differently about safety.听Unlike a closed construction site, universities have thousands of students, faculty, visitors, and staff moving through adjacent spaces each day. Construction activities must account for pedestrian traffic, emergency access, deliveries, accessibility routes and changing campus schedules.听

Safety planning should include more than OSHA compliance. It should focus on protecting the campus community while allowing construction activities to听proceed听efficiently. Thoughtful听logistics听planning, secure work zones, dust and noise mitigation, and close coordination with campus facilities departments all contribute to a safer project.听

Flexibility Is Essential听

No occupied project unfolds exactly as planned.听Academic听calendars shift. Campus events听are听added. Deliveries change. Building occupants听identify听unforeseen needs after construction begins.听

Successful contractors recognize that flexibility is not a disruption to the听process,听it is part of the process.听Teams that communicate early, adapt quickly, and remain focused on solutions rather than obstacles create stronger partnerships with their clients and听ultimately deliver听better outcomes.听

Success Means More Than Completing the Project听

Construction teams naturally focus on schedules, budgets, and quality. Universities measure success a little differently.听

• Did students continue learning with minimal disruption?听
• Did faculty remain productive?听
• Did campus operations continue safely?听
• Did communication remain proactive throughout the project?听

The answers to those questions often听determine听whether a contractor becomes a long-term partner rather than simply completing a single project.听

Building Relationships Alongside Buildings听

As higher education institutions continue investing in renovations and modernization, contractors have an opportunity to become more than builders.听They can become partners who understand campus operations, anticipate challenges before they occur and deliver projects that support the institution’s broader mission.听

The most successful educational construction projects are not remembered because construction happened.听They are remembered because learning never stopped.听

Mike听Bucalo听is the President and Owner of Friedrich Watkins Construction of Tampa.听Learn more by visiting听.

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