Armed with cell phones, six juniors from Wisdom High School teemed with enthusiasm as they wandered through their nearly completed new school, snapping pictures and selfies along the way.
“I feel like I’m getting a makeover,” junior Awah Bodunrin said, giggling as she and her classmates made their way through the new facility.
Bodunrin is a member of Wisdom’s upcoming 2017-2018 Senior Committee, a senior leadership group that got an early look at the new school, which is set to open in time for the start of the 2017-2018 school year.
The Houston Independent School District expects to have almost three dozen schools under active construction by the end of 2016, HISD Construction Officer Derrick Sanders told the Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) on Tuesday during their quarterly meeting.
Pending board approval of additional contracts, the district will have 35 projects actively underway, leaving just two — Austin and Bellaire high schools — to begin construction in 2017. Up from about two dozen projects in the last quarter, that is more active construction than at any time in HISD’s history, and also believed to be record-setting in Texas and the U.S.
“The quantity of contracts that we’ve moved through the process is incredible,” Sanders said. “We’ve gotten a lot done, but have a lot more to do. We welcome the challenge.” Continue reading →
Workers on the site of the new Wisdom High School paused last Friday to celebrate as the last structural steel beam was placed atop the building, an important milestone in construction of the $74 million project.
Satterfield & Pontikes, Inc., the construction manager at risk for the new facility, organized the “Topping Out” Ceremony to thank subcontractors for their hard work and safety record. The group was treated to a barbecue lunch before they watched a large crane lift and place the final beam.
On the last day of school, Lee High School students, staff and community members had the opportunity to sign one of the final steel beams to be erected in the construction of their new school.
The school, recently renamed Wisdom High School by the HISD Board of Education, is being rebuilt as part of HISD’s voter-approved, 2012 Bond Program. It is slated to receive a new $73.8 million facility to accommodate 1,700 to 1,900 students.
“The beam signing is an awesome experience for the kids. They’ll remember it forever,” said HISD Trustee Harvin Moore, who represents the school. “This is going to be an amazing campus when it’s finished, and I’m extremely pleased with the progress.”
Heavy rain and flooding throughout the Houston area may have slowed down many this week, but construction at the new Lee High School work site continued to move forward.
Located on Houston’s west side, the $73.8 million, 240,000-square-foot facility is being rebuilt as a modern learning environment that will accommodate 1,700 to 1,900 students.
“The school looks like it’s going up pretty fast, and I’m really happy given the weather lately,” said Lee Principal Jonathan Trinh. “The community appreciates having a new school. With the neighborhood surrounding the school going through renovations now, we’re hoping the new campus will kick start and revitalize the area.”
School construction is progressing at a record pace in HISD, and if you’ve spent any time driving in district neighborhoods recently, you have probably spotted one or more of our schools under construction.
With fifteen projects currently in the construction phase, that’s more active construction than at any other time in the district’s history. Many of these projects are well into vertical construction, and visible progress can be seen almost daily.
Check out these latest photos taken the second week of February.
As the district moves forward with implementation of the $1.89 billion bond program, which was approved by Houston voters in 2012, the bond team expects to have signed construction contracts on an additional six schools by the end of the first quarter of 2016, and nearly all the remaining projects will be bid by the end of 2016.
Phase 1 of the Worthing project will be complete by summer. Schools on track to open in time for the start of the 2016-2017 school year include Condit Elementary, Mark White Elementary, North Houston Early College High School, South Early College High School, Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School, and (non-bond) North Forest Early Childhood Center.
The bond program, which will rebuild or renovate 40 schools, including 29 high schools, also includes improvements to district-wide athletics facilities, middle school restroom renovations and significant technology upgrades. HISD is also building some non-bond funded schools: North Forest High School, North Forest Early Childhood Center and the Energy Institute High School.
Lee High School’s new building project reached a significant milestone in December, as workers on the site began installation of steel beams and columns, marking the start of vertical construction.
As part of HISD’s bond program, Lee HS is slated to receive a $73.8 million school to accommodate 1,700 to 1,900 students. The new 240,000-square-foot facility will include state-of-the-art technology with flexibility to allow for future upgrades.
The two-story building will be divided into four neighborhood wings with open spaces and plenty of windows to maximize natural light.
The main entrance to the school will remain on the north, so the campus will keep its historical Beverly Hill address. It will also feature a light-filled atrium, internal courtyard, large dinning commons and a natatorium.
Students will continue to attend classes in the existing building throughout construction. Once the new building is complete, the current building will be demolished then new athletic fields and additional parking will be built on that site.
Construction is targeted for completion in the second quarter of 2017.
A community meeting was held Monday evening to discuss design plans and the construction timeline for the new 21st century campus at Lee High School.
Through HISD’s 2012 bond program, $73.8 million has been allocated to build the new Lee HS campus. The new 240,000-square-foot facility will include state-of-the-art technology with flexibility to allow for future upgrades. The two-story school will be divided into four neighborhood wings with open spaces and plenty of windows to maximize natural light.
Design images of Lee High School, which will be rebuilt into a 21st century learning environment, are featured in a new HISD video that explores the planning and design of the campus.
As architects design a new 21st century Lee High School, they are thinking about flexible learning spaces, integrated technology and increased light. But getting students involved in the design process is providing the school’s identity.
