• CESD鈥檚 new campus will feature a combined 86,000 square feet of learning space that celebrates Biltmore Prep鈥檚 dual immersion learning model听

• Through a phased approach, the campus will remain fully operational during construction of new buildings.听

• The project is scheduled to be completed in Winter 2027, with students transitioning to new classrooms in time for the 2027-2028 school year.听

PHOENIX听鈥� Creighton Elementary School District (Creighton) recently broke ground on a comprehensive campus replacement project for Biltmore Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, which will provide entirely new infrastructure to accommodate increased student populations and modernized, collaborative learning. Designed by SPS+ Architects and being constructed by McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy), the project听aims to celebrate the unique biliterate learning culture and rich history of the Biltmore Prep community through a redefined campus design.听

District leaders described the听project听(Creighton鈥檚 first-ever active campus rebuild)听as听a historic milestone for听the听community.听听

鈥淥ur priority is ensuring that our students听remain safely engaged in their learning without missing a beat, even as a brand-new future rises right beside them,鈥� the district shared in a statement.听鈥淲e听aren’t听just building classrooms; we are creating a space that celebrates our rich, biliterate culture and mirrors the vibrancy of the Latin American heritages we honor every day.鈥�听

Biltmore Prep鈥檚 reimagined campus will听include a听brand-new administration and cafeteria building, and a two-story elementary classroom building with modernized K-5 classrooms. With its dual immersion teaching model, where students transition from English to Spanish learning throughout the week, every space has been thoughtfully designed with color and texture tied to the language of instruction. Students will associate the physical learning environment with the learning content.听

The two-story middle school building will house all sixth through eighth grade classes, featuring听a state-of-the-art media and learning center, hands-on STEM labs,听a maker听space, and dedicated rooms for music and the arts. The crown jewel is a 鈥榣earning stair鈥� 鈥� a large amphitheater-style staircase designed to provide flexible reading spaces, group听work听and collaboration for students.听

Each building will feature distinct, vibrant collaboration spaces, equipped with flexible seating to encourage students to engage in bilingual conversations and create opportunities for inspiration and creativity within these multicultural areas.听

Tying it all together, the campus will make听great use听of its existing multipurpose gymnasium (built in 2019) as a central hub for play and gathering throughout construction. All four buildings will frame a stunning central courtyard anchored by a larger outdoor learning stair as a key architectural feature, cascading from the second story of the elementary building into the courtyard. This feature will provide opportunities for outdoor classes, student performances, assemblies, and parent-teacher events.听

“The Creighton District started the project with a lofty goal, to go beyond the surface and embody biliteracy at a deeper level, in materials, spatial relations and site planning,鈥� said Morgan Ellis, K-12听Director at SPS+ Architects. 鈥淎s an architect, these are the projects we dream of.”听

The project听will also embrace opportunities to engage with students and staff in both Spanish and English,听as all communication and signage surrounding the project will be conducted in both languages.听

鈥淢cCarthy has had the honor of walking these halls, supporting this campus, and being a part of this community for years, and we are excited about this next chapter for BPA,鈥澨齭aid Project Director Paul Kubik.听鈥淓very time we take on a campus rebuild, we have the privilege of becoming ingrained into the school鈥檚 culture, and that runs especially deep here.鈥�听

With the project scheduled to complete around November 2027, the newly reimagined Biltmore Prep will celebrate the long-standing culture of the community while expanding the school鈥檚 capacity from听nearly 500听students and 60 staff to听roughly 750听students and 75 staff.听

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By听Eric听Jay听Toll

Career readiness education is implemented through multiple methodologies, increasingly adopted by听numerous听school districts, particularly within states such as Arizona. These approaches may include academies that integrate traditional core curricula with career-oriented instruction, as well as Career and Technical Education (CTE), which deliver specialized technical听education and certifications听aligned with specific trades or professions. The associated campuses and facilities are purposefully designed to equip students with educational experiences that prepare them for future careers.听

Each unique educational setting is customized to align with听particular industries,听occupations听or career trajectories,听necessitating听facilities that enable educators to effectively prepare students for their intended professions.听

鈥淭here are more diverse learning pathways available today than ever before,鈥澨齭aid听Tyler Shupe,听senior听director听of听Education Services听at McCarthy Building Companies听in Phoenix.听听听

Shupe works with school districts on behalf of McCarthy. He sees districts recognizing听that听career focused听education听is听of听growing听interest听to听communities,听students听and employers.听Responding to the听call,听they听are听customizing听learning spaces, whether听by听renovating an existing campus, expanding it, or building听entirely new facilities.听

听Shupe听has听led听several of these听education听projects in the Greater Phoenix area. Two听of these听include the听currently under construction听Agua Fria Union High School District鈥檚听(AFHSD)听new听Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater听campus in Litchfield Park, Arizona,听and the听recently completed听Northeast听Campus expansion听of听Western Maricopa Education Center, known as West-MEC, in听North听Phoenix.听

Designing Schools to Mirror the Workplace

A career- or arts-focused curriculum changes how the school must be designed compared with a traditional comprehensive high school, according to Shupe. The intention is to听create learning spaces that replicate the working environment.听

鈥淢ost academies and CTE spaces require not only a classroom for learning, but also a hands-on learning space,鈥� Shupe explained.听鈥淪tudents get time in the classroom and time learning by doing, and every program has its own classroom, lab, and space designed just for it.鈥�听听

In addition to the arts and CTE, academy high schools are being built or expanded to include current technology facilities for technology, manufacturing, healthcare听and听trades听education, and other specialized careers that might not require a four-year college degree for career starts.听

For West-MEC, McCarthy听recently听expanded its CTE for welding and advanced manufacturing. At Hilltop, the new $75 million campus听blends听both听high-tech听high school听classrooms with听facilities听for literary, visual, performing and media/digital arts programs. Undertaking such tasks goes beyond design and building.听

鈥淎cross our district, I鈥檝e seen how specialty learning environments truly change the way students connect with their education,鈥� said听Mark Yslas, Superintendent for听AFHSD.听鈥淲hether听it鈥檚听hands-on career programs, advanced academics, or real-world learning experiences, these spaces are built around our students鈥� interests and goals. By creating environments that reflect industry, innovation, and creativity,听we鈥檙e听helping ensure our students graduate prepared for whatever path they choose.鈥�听

Community Partnerships Shape Campus Development

Developing a specialized high school program requires strong collaboration with the community. For听AFHSD, the Hilltop project presented听challenges, which听is听common听for initiatives that have a focused purpose. The campus is听being built听on听the site of听a historic听estate, with an application underway for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.听As the highest point in the city,听The听Hilltop is physically prominent and serves as a central feature in the District鈥檚 Academies of the Southwest transformation.听听听

鈥淭he historic estate residences remain on-site and are in the process of being transformed into museum spaces,鈥澨齋hupe said,听as he numbered off all the stakeholders in this project beyond just the high school district administration, teachers and interested parents.听鈥淭he听property is owned by the City of Litchfield Park and leased to听AFHSD,听to听expand arts opportunities for students and residents alike,听an example of strong community partnerships听in action.鈥�听

Aligning Education with Regional Workforce Demand

West-MEC has an entirely听different set听of collaborators. The Phoenix area has become听the听Silicon Desert. Taiwan-based TSMC is building one of the largest chip fabrication plants in the world. With it, Greater Phoenix is seeing extensive industrial听development,听听and听electric-vehicle and associated parts manufacturing. With the volume of new businesses, there is an insatiable demand for well-trained future employees.听

鈥淲est MEC establishes industry advisory committees for each program,鈥� Shupe explained. 鈥淭hese committees guide the district on emerging skills and priorities for student learning. West MEC then equips students with the certifications they need to transition directly into the workforce upon graduation.鈥�听

Built at the district’s Northeast Campus, the $13.5 million project totals听16,500 square feet听of advanced manufacturing floor space, complete with a clean room and industry-standard equipment. Also included is an electric vehicle bay that they outfitted to create a next-generation teaching facility for EV technology.听

鈥淥ur programs are built in partnership with the community and industries we serve,鈥� said West-MEC Superintendent Dr. Scott Spurgeon. 鈥淭hat collaboration ensures West-MEC students are听trained on current technology and workforce expectations, strengthening both individual career pathways and our regional economy.鈥�听

Experience and Coordination Drive Successful Outcomes

CTE curriculum and facilities听isn鈥檛听something new for McCarthy. Shupe said that the construction company has partnered with West-MEC听over the last fifteen years听on three other campuses and many other school districts on a variety of听other CTE programs听and spaces.听

鈥淲e understand the importance听of hearing from听industry leaders听and working closely with the district and听our design partners听to provide听a听highly productive听learning environment that鈥檚 state-of-the-art,鈥� he said.听鈥淲e bring our听expertise听in听school construction to these projects and听work through a process that听incorporates feedback along with best practices to achieve the goals of the district and its听stakeholders.听We鈥檙e听all focused on student success, which makes these projects particularly rewarding.鈥澨�听

Building today鈥檚听career-oriented听learning听campuses,听renovating听or expanding an existing facility requires unique experience, from understanding project听objectives听and听collaborating with the community, to knowing how to build a successful school.听

鈥淲e learn as much听about听the project as we can, the needs of the client, and how the building is going to be used,鈥澨齭aid听Shupe. 鈥淓very program is unique, and we start by understanding what needs to go into that space.听鈥淭he effort involves a higher degree of coordination than what鈥檚 needed for conventional construction projects.鈥�听

Eric Jay Toll听is听a freelance writer and Communications Manager for the city of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department.听

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By Lindsey Coulter听

PHOENIX 鈥� Arizona State University (ASU) recently announced plans for an estimated 200,000-square-foot building in Phoenix that will serve as ASU Health鈥檚 new headquarters. The multistory School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering facility, designed by CO Architects in collaboration with DFDG Architecture and being constructed by McCarthy Building Companies, will join the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and several biotech research companies at the downtown Phoenix Bioscience Core.听

鈥淭his endeavor is more than a building, and this is much more than a medical school,鈥� said ASU President Michael Crow, in a statement. 鈥淭his will be the headquarters of ASU Health, a new hub of innovation, teaching and learning to enhance health outcomes for the people of Arizona.鈥�听

The project is one of several within the city鈥檚 Bioscience Core听designed by CO Architects. The firm is responsible for two of the precinct鈥檚 early buildings for University of Arizona鈥檚 health sciences and biomedical research programs. 鈥淲e鈥檙e leveraging our vast experience in Arizona, and in Phoenix specifically, for the new ASU Health facility,鈥� said Jenna Knudsen, FAIA, Managing Principal of CO Architects, in a statement.听

DFDG Architecture also recently collaborated on the ASU Health Futures Building and the adjacent Mayo Clinic Integrated Education & Research Building to integrate medical research and educational training in North Phoenix. 鈥淭hat momentum will carry over to this project, the latest addition to greater Phoenix鈥檚 health-sciences construction boom,鈥� said DFDG President Darrin Orndorff, AIA, in a statement.听

In addition to housing ASU鈥檚 first-ever Phoenix medical school offering MD degrees and hosting select existing programs from the Health Solutions and Nursing schools, the building will include space for ASU鈥檚 clinical affiliate,听. The new facility will also accommodate two new programs, expanding ASU Health鈥檚 multi-discipline curricula. The School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering will teach future physicians how to improve patient care by blending medicine, engineering, technology and humanities. ASU Health鈥檚 new School of Technology for Public Health will focus on the integration of digital technology and data-driven decisions, aiming to improve local public health.听

Facility features are projected to include virtual anatomy and clinical-skills laboratories, exam rooms, classrooms, study spaces, administrative offices, and a simulation center with mock operating and emergency rooms. Further, the new ASU Health headquarters will offer community-facing programs so that members of the public can interface with technology-enabled information on health-related issues such as immunizations.听听

鈥淎SU鈥檚 forward-thinking approach to preparing future medical and health service professionals and advancing community health education is plainly demonstrated by this progressive project,鈥� said Carlos Diaz, Vice President of Operations at McCarthy Building Companies, in a statement. 鈥淲e are eager to bring together our national expertise in simulation lab construction and our local team鈥檚 demonstrated competence on complex worksites to collaborate with these exceptional design partners and support ASU鈥檚 vision.鈥�听

The ASU Health School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering building is designed to help address workforce shortages while improving public health outcomes in Phoenix and beyond. Preliminary sitework is set to begin this fall, with construction starting in early 2026. ASU Health will begin accepting student applications later this year and plans to commence classes in the new building in fall 2028.听

The project team also includes Meyer Borgman Johnson (structural engineering), Spectrum Engineers (MEP engineering), Dibble Engineers (civil engineering), TrueForm Landscape Architecture Studio (landscape architecture), Bowman Fire & Life Safety (safety consultant), WSP USA Buildings (sustainability consultant) and NV5 (AV/IT/security consultant).听

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TEMPE, Ariz. 鈥� Construction recently concluded on Arizona State University鈥檚 (ASU) University Gateway Building (UGB), a $78 million, five-story mixed-use facility with an architecturally complex facade. The structure unifies retail, education, and art spaces under one sustainably designed roof.听

“The University Gateway Building marks a significant milestone for Arizona State University, linking the west side of the Tempe campus with the vibrant energy of Mill Avenue,” said Tim Smith, ASU Facilities Development and Management vice president in a statement. “With its distinctive angular fa莽ade, we have a visual showpiece that inspires ideas and innovation.鈥�听

The 128,000-square-foot structure was the remaining element to a two-part project completed in tandem by the design-build team of St. Louis, Mo.-based McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and Phoenix-based DFDG Architects. The first part of the project, a six-story parking structure, was completed last year.听

Inside the UGB听

Classrooms within the UGB are home to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts where students study music, music therapy, photography, e-sports, architecture and animation programs. Designed with acoustics in mind, the building鈥檚 third floor features an extensive sound isolation system from Phoenix-based TP Acoustics Inc., to manage both internal and external noise. The firm helped develop the ideal settings for instrument practice rooms, group rehearsal spaces, recording studios and a music therapy clinic for the college鈥檚 music program.

An e-sport gaming lounge, large computer labs, 3D printing technology and state-of-the-art dark rooms all have homes within the other three academic floors and are neighbored by faculty offices and flex study areas for nearby academic support.听听

By grouping similar occupants, the project听team maximized the use of special elements, i.e. sound-proofed areas for various sound needs or dark spaces designed to be adjacent to photography study areas, according to Jonathan Kimble, project manager at McCarthy Building Companies. Kimble spoke to the value of developing a mixed-use space and strategically separating or conjoining amenities. 听

鈥淪ometimes that separation can be a hard line between floors or slowly transitioning from office space on one end of the building to a photo lab on the other end by mixing in study spaces, classrooms and lounge areas to help soften the transition鈥�听

However, the building isn鈥檛 all academically focused. To maximize land use for various stakeholder groups, the building offers leasable restaurant and retail spaces on the ground level. A pedestrian walkway along the building鈥檚 facade creates an inviting environment for community members and complementing the building’s innovative听high-performance thermal, air and vapor envelope. 听

The exposed facades are designed to minimize direct solar gain with various shading strategies. For instance, the western facade features a unitized skin system with a deeply faceted geometric design, providing coverage from sunlight to help reduce energy consumption.听

Designing this angular facade brought a variety of challenges beyond the building鈥檚 shape alone, such as the street鈥檚 building鈥檚 bustling, arterial Mill Avenue location and the overall process of creating a showcase design that serves as the gateway to ASU鈥檚 campus.听

鈥淭o overcome these challenges, we worked closely with our design team as well as our trade partner, KT-Fabrication, to create a superior skin system that would not only be a statement piece for ASU but could also be prefabricated and shipped to the site for installation to help mitigate disruption to traffic,鈥� said Kimble. 鈥淲e built a mockup of the skin panels at KT-Fabrication’s yard where we were able to perform testing and review with ASU to make any necessary adjustments prior to installing the panels on site.鈥�听

Parking Solutions听

The UGB wraps around the $42 million Mill Avenue parking structure, completed in 2023. The structure, the first phase of the Mill Avenue project by design-build team McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and DFDG Architects, added 1,205 parking spaces to the area. 听

ASU鈥檚 dedication to sustainability remains evident in the 429,000-square-foot parking structure, which features EV charging stations on the first and third floors. The six-story building has a rooftop photovoltaic array for electrical power generation, while below the structure underground thermal energy storage supports campus cooling. Secure bike parking is offered, with changing rooms and showers also included to support greener commutes. 听听

Commissioning of the two-part project entailed sourcing chilled-water air handlers and pumps, a dedicated outdoor air system, electric water heaters, circulation pumps, hydronic heat exchangers and exhaust fans. Advanced lighting, including control systems for dimming and motion sensing, were also critical to the environmentally sustainable elements of the project. The combined parking structure and University Gateway Building are projected to meet LEED Silver and Parksmart Gold certifications. 听

Key construction trade partners also included Sun Valley Masonry in Phoenix, and Tempe, Ariz.-based companies Arizona Elevator Solutions and RH Dupper Landscaping. 听

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WADDELL, Ariz.鈥擠LR Group, a firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design, recently received an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects for its design of Canyon View High School in Waddell.

This prestigious national award honors innovative designs that inspire learners, educators, administrators, and communities and enhance modern pedagogy.

Completed in 2018, Canyon View High School spans 237,120 square feet for its 2,000 students and consists of flexible teaching environments reinforced by digital platforms for learning.

鈥淐anyon View High School is a special campus,鈥� said DLR Group Senior Principal听Pam Loeffelman, FAIA, in a statement.

鈥淭he design is the framework that allows the district to blur the lines between ages and abilities and to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind learning experience for students and educators. DLR Group is especially honored to be recognized by our peers for design excellence that positively impacts student success.鈥�

During the award review process, jurors noted, 鈥渢he project hits on equity, health, and accessibility. Every indoor-outdoor space is a place for socializing, movement, gathering, performing, and creating as a community of learners.鈥�

DLR Group noted that in its design, ownership of the classroom is transferred to the collective school, allowing faculty to rotate through learning spaces weekly and affording students the ability to explore academic interests and curriculum. Prior to occupying the campus, DLR Group implemented its听听(Bridging Organization Learning and Design) service, which is a facility activation process. This change effort led to universal buy-in to a vision for the campus, resulting in a shift in teaching practices that align with the physical environment.

To achieve this, DLR Group鈥檚 design emphasizes spatial flexibility and sustainability as primary means of fulfilling the district鈥檚 goals.

The new $75.6 million high school offers the opportunity to strengthen relationships, foster multiple pedagogies for individualized learning opportunities, and nurtures a culture that is student-focused and faculty-guided. Classes have the flexibility to be held in spaces designed to suit the learning of the moment and adjust when necessary.

鈥淭he new facility enables innovation and measurable advancements in teaching and learning. These spaces allow teachers to advance their professional skills, and students to examine coursework more deeply to develop collaborative opportunity with peers globally,鈥� said Dr. Dennis Runyan,听superintendent,听Agua Fria Union High School District, in a statement.

Chasse Building Team Inc. was the general contractor on this impressive project.

DLR Group and Canyon View High School have also received additional industry and educational accolades since the campus opened in 2018. Honors include the coveted听听by the Association for Learning Environments in 2019, and design and research awards through the AIA Arizona chapter.

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GILBERT, Ariz.鈥擟onstruction is now complete on the new $23 million Robert J C Rice Elementary School in southwest Gilbert.

The new K-6 school鈥攚hich can accommodate 800 students鈥� has opened for the 2020-21 school year. The 93,000-square-foot building features a gym/multipurpose room, media center, computer lab learning center, classrooms, and administration space.

The new elementary school campus was built on an accelerated seven-month schedule on Ocotillo Road between Lindsay Road and Val Vista Drive near several new home communities and will help alleviate overcrowding at nearby elementary schools.

鈥淭his project had one of the most accelerated timelines for a new build school project that we鈥檝e completed to date鈥攋ust seven months鈥� and we are proud to have completed it successfully, despite the turbulent times,鈥� said Andrea Ramos, project director for McCarthy Building Companies, in a statement.

HDA Architects Inc. served as the architect. Major subcontractors included Sun Valley Masonry, Procon Concrete, R&N Electric, Irontree, and Midstate Mechanical.

The school has numerous energy-saving features such as:

• An air-cooled central plant;
• An energy Management system that allows HVAC and lighting to be controlled remotely via the internet;
• Sky lighting in hallways to eliminate use of lights, and;
• Ground and polished concrete floors in hallways and bathrooms, which are easier and less expensive to maintain.

鈥淲e are very proud to have been part of the team creating this special educational facility for the Chandler Unified School District community,鈥� said HAD Architects Principal Bruce Scott.

鈥淚 appreciate the level of effort provided by our team, as well as McCarthy and district representatives, to meet the aggressive design and construction schedule especially during these challenging times.鈥�

The school was named after long-time CUSD governing board member Robert Rice, who began his career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and spent more than two decades working for Intel in senior management roles. He is currently a member of the Arizona School Facilities Board.

Students who attended Weinberg Elementary last year鈥攚hich has been turned into a school for gifted students beginning with the 2020/21 school year鈥攚ill attend the new Robert J C Rice School. Like Weinberg, the school will offer both the Chandler Traditional Academies (CTA) education model as well as 鈥渃lassic鈥� education. Parents will have a choice on the type of instruction their child will receive.

鈥淲e are fortunate to have the financial support of our community,鈥� said听CUSD Superintendent Camille Casteel, in a statement.

鈥淧assage of a $290 million bond election in 2019 provided the funding to build Rice Elementary which will serve a fast-growing area of our community. We needed to fast track Rice Elementary to open for the start of the 2020-2021 school year and听once again McCarthy was up to the challenge.鈥�

The Chandler Unified School District used school bond funds approved in the 2019 election by voters to build the school.

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PHOENIX鈥擳he new Sierra Linda Performing Arts Center, a 24,000-square-foot facility located at Sierra Linda High School in Phoenix, is now complete.

As part of the Tolleson Union High School District, the $10.5 million center was designed for maximum functionality for students, educators, and audience members, accommodating more than 600 people. To serve area arts education programs and the broader community, the center is being used as a hands-on teaching space for the Sierra Linda High School鈥檚 performing arts/fine arts programs and is acoustically balanced for both amplified sound and live performances. Funding for the project was provided by school bond dollars.

The stage includes state-of-the-art LED lighting with automatic stage rigging and controls. The back of the house includes a dance classroom, a multi-purpose classroom for guitar, mariachi and piano lessons, as well as associated restrooms and make-up rooms. The design scheme utilizes mountains on the walls and a color palette that complements Sierra Linda鈥檚 school colors of navy and maroon.

鈥淲e are absolutely thrilled that our Sierra Linda students will finally have a state-of-the-art performing arts center to showcase their talents,鈥� said Tolleson Union High School District Superintendent Nora Gutierrez, in a statement.

鈥淚t is long overdue. This community deserves a beautiful facility such as this one. The performing arts center is one that will serve the community for many years to come. We can鈥檛 wait for the wonderful performances and events that will take place in this wonderful facility.

McCarthy Building Companies was the general contractor on this impressive project that took nine months to complete. ADM Group served as the project architect.

鈥淭his project illustrates that creative design and construction solutions combined with smart budgeting can elevate a school theater beyond status quo to a professional quality theater for the entire community to enjoy,鈥� said Mike Horn, project director for McCarthy鈥檚 Education Services team.

ADM Group completed the original high school campus design in 2010, which included plans for a future performing arts center.

鈥淥ur team is proud to have designed a premier performance arts venue that will elevate the rich, cultural fabric at Sierra Linda High School,鈥� said Nina Sheriff, principal/director of Design with ADM Group, in a statement.

鈥淭o pay homage to a nearby historic canal, the landscape design features a levee with river rocks that flow to and from the theater鈥檚 entrance. To reflect the name of the school, 鈥榖eautiful mountains鈥�, the side walls of the auditorium were constructed in the shape of mountains with lighting to glow like the sunset. The long-awaited performing arts center honors the community鈥檚 roots and gives students a modern, high-tech space to showcase their talents.鈥�

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PHOENIX, Ariz.鈥擟onstruction has begun on Robert Rice Elementary School, Chandler Unified School District鈥檚听(CUSD) 32nd elementary school.

McCarthy Building Companies is the general contractor on this $23 million K-6 school that will accommodate 800 students when completed in June鈥攊n time for the school year to begin in July. CUSD is using school bond funds approved in the 2019 election by voters to build the school.

The 93,000-square-foot building will include a gym/multipurpose room, media center, classrooms and administration space. The new school is being built on an accelerated seven-month schedule on Ocotillo Road between Lindsay Road and Val Vista Drive in southwest Gilbert, Ariz.

HDA Architects Inc. is the architect on the project. Major subcontractors听include Sun Valley Masonry, Procon Concrete, R&N Electric, Irontree and Midstate Mechanical.

The school will contain energy-saving features including an air-cooled central plant; an energy management system that allows HVAC and lighting to be controlled remotely via the Internet; sky lighting in hallways to eliminate use of lights; and ground and polished concrete floors in hallways and bathrooms, which are easier and less expensive to maintain.

The school is being named after Robert Rice, a long-time CUSD governing board member who began his career as a U.S. Air Force officer and spent more than two decades working for Intel in senior management roles. He is a member of the Arizona School Facilities Board.

Students who currently attend Weinberg Elementary鈥攚hich is being turned into a school for gifted students next year鈥攚ill attend the new Robert Rice Elementary School. Like Weinberg Elementary, the new school will offer both the Chandler Traditional Academies (CTA) education model, as well as 鈥渃lassic鈥� education. The school will also implement a sustainability program.

鈥淲e are working hard to establish a neighborhood school that delivers strong instruction aligned to the Arizona standards and offers a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities for our students,鈥� said CUSD Superintendent Camille Castille, in a statement.

鈥淩ice Elementary will provide options for parents with respect to students鈥� instructional needs and foster parent and community involvement through partnerships with all school stakeholders.鈥�

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PHOENIX, Ariz.鈥擟onstruction has begun on the new Balsz School District鈥檚 Pat Tillman Middle School, a middle school bearing the name of one of Arizona鈥檚 and the nation鈥檚 most notable and revered American heroes.

Named after the decorated American hero, who left a successful professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country following 9/11, the nearly 70,000-square-foot middle will comprise 42 new classrooms, administrative offices, STEM learning flex space and two new laboratories to support student centered and authentic learning for students in the Balsz School District.

In addition, a new sports tunnel will be constructed, celebrating and connecting the sports fields to the school. Sitework will include the build-out of both sports and community fields with perimeter security that allows for safe and secure student and community access. The building also incorporates energy efficiency upgrades to allow the school to be more operationally efficient over time.

鈥淥ur vision for Pat Tillman Middle School is to create the finest learning environment in the Valley, one that truly honors the Tillman legacy,鈥� said Dr. Jeffrey Smith, superintendent of the Balsz School District.

鈥淧at embodied everything it is that we want to instill in our students鈥攂ravery, patriotism, commitment, selflessness鈥攁nd these fundamentals will very much be a part of the core culture at Tillman Middle School.鈥�

Located at 4309 E. Belleview in Phoenix, the school offers a traditional academic curriculum with expansive elective, after-school and sports offerings. The school will remain open for the 2019-20 school year, while construction is underway, and continue to serve the current student population of approximately 720 students in grades 6 to 8.

The school鈥檚 robust elective offerings include an Elite Sports Training pathway, a STEM program focusing on coding, rocketry and robotics, and a Digital Arts program that exposes students to video production, multimedia design and computer graphics. Students at the school will also benefit from the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) initiative, which seeks to bridge the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged students and their peers.

Construction will be completed in time for the 2020 school year. Final construction completion, which includes all site work and miscellaneous upgrades to existing structures, is slated for October 2020.

DLR Group is providing integrated architecture and engineering services. McCarthy Building Companies is the general contractor and providing construction management services.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a privilege to work with the Tillman school community on this major renovation of their school campus, which will enhance the educational and STEM learning experience for current and future students,鈥澨齭aid Mike Horn, project director for the Education Services team at McCarthy.

鈥淲e look forward to bringing these highly-anticipated and significant changes to the campus over the next year and are particularly honored to be part of acknowledging Pat Tillman for his service to our country and his athletic achievements as the namesake of the school.鈥�

Added Pam Loeffelman, FAIA, DLR Group, 鈥淲e are honored to provide a new home for Tillman Middle School. The entire team of educators, administrators, architects, engineers, contractors, students and the community at large worked collaboratively to co-design a school that enables teachers and students to aspire to the Tillman spirit and embraces the community where it resides.鈥�

Originally built and opened as Balsz Elementary School in 1964, the Tillman family granted Balsz School District permission to use the Tillman name in early 2018. The school, home of the Warriors, is located only a few blocks from Arizona State University鈥檚 Sun Devil Stadium, where Tillman first made headlines on the football field.

Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004 at the age of 27.

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GLENDALE, Ariz.鈥曁齅cCarthy Building Companies recently broke ground on a new K-8 classroom building for Arroyo School in Glendale, Ariz.

The $16.2 million project for the Washington Elementary School District 鈥� which is being funded through a 2016 voter-approved bond election 鈥� will include 74,600 square feet of new facilities鈥攃lassrooms, a gym, parking, drop-off area and playfields. Once the new classroom building is completed in July 2020, the remaining buildings will be demolished making way for the construction of new parking and play fields.

Originally built in 1974, Arroyo School serves approximately 600 students in grades K-8 and is a Title I school that offers high academics, free, full-day kindergarten, art, music, PE, gifted education, and an After-School Academy.

鈥淭he ceremonial groundbreaking was a great way to celebrate a dream that will soon become a reality,鈥� says Arroyo School Principal Philip Liles.

Mike Horn is project director for the Education Services team at McCarthy.

鈥淲e鈥檙e honored to work with the Arroyo school community, which values education and being engaged in the renovation of their school campus,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e look forward to bringing big changes to the campus over the next school year while ensuring the students and staff do not have to endure any major construction-related disruptions.鈥�

BWS Architects is the architect on this project. Established in 1992, Pre-K through 12, higher education, and community projects with an educational emphasis, such as libraries and museums, have historically formed the largest percentage of BWS Architects鈥� work over the past 27 years.

鈥淲e greatly appreciate our partnership with McCarthy Building Companies and the Washington Elementary School District as we bring our collective vision to life and create long-lasting pride for the Arroyo school community,鈥澨齭ays BWS Design Principal Frank Slingerland.

鈥淲e believe in creating enriching learning environments where students and educators can discover and grow together.鈥�

Adds Principal Liles, 鈥淥ur students, staff and neighbors have been looking forward to our newly constructed school since the day our community passed the bond in November 2016. We鈥檙e excited for construction to begin, and we look forward to continuing the great learning that takes place every day at Arroyo in our new school in 2020!鈥�

The award-winning Washington Elementary School District is Arizona鈥檚 largest elementary district, comprised of 32 schools, serving more than 23,000 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The WESD encompasses 44-square-miles of north-central Phoenix and east Glendale.

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