PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This project consists of a 265,000 sf school set on 33 acres in Spring Hill. Hernando Elementary School J is based off of Challenger K-8, a prototype school completed by Ajax in 2005.

This school is a neighborhood zone school with two full floors, a partial third floor, and provisions for a future third floor. This building is being constructed as a full Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area and will serve as a hurricane shelter for the county.

The main building features an elementary school wing, a middle school wing, and a central mall that houses shared services such as the administration, media center, food service area, and gymnasium. One outbuilding houses the mechanical systems while the other is for PE storage.
The structure is cast-in-place concrete columns with a PSI concrete joist system. The exterior is a brick façade with a concrete masonry backup wall. Site improvements include a sewage pump station, fire main loop, and access road. Additional site improvements to Northcliffe Blvd. will widen existing lanes and add turn lanes and signalization. Site amenities such as a soccer/football field, softball field, tennis and basketball courts, playground, bus loop, and parking lots are to be added.

CURRENT STATUS (5/12/08):
Sidewalks have been completed. Planting has been completed except for the area around the jobsite trailers. The second layer of asphalt has been placed at the bus loop and is working from the back parking lot toward the entrance road. The site shelter has been completed. The concrete pad under the site shelter has been completed. The fencing is nearing completion. The aluminum walkway canopies are being completed with the installation of the canopies at the outside dining area. The gymnasium floor has been installed. The scoreboards have been installed. The acoustical panels in the Mall, Multipurpose, Band, and Gymnasium have been installed. Casework continues to be placed Lobby and the Media Center. Resinous flooring has been completed. Vinyl base continues to be installed. The hard ceilings have been finished throughout the building. The acoustical ceiling tile is being dropped into place on the third floor. The ceiling grid is complete on the third floor. The stage curtains are installed. The final coat of paint is being placed in the middle school wing. The elementary school wing has been walked by the Owner and Architect for punchlist. Plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, and electrical finish work continues on the third floor. The main MDP room is under permanent power. Light fixtures, speakers, exit signs, grills, and security cameras have been installed in the acoustical ceiling grid in the middle school wing. Restroom fixtures have been installed in restrooms where epoxy flooring has been completed. Work on controls continues. The lightning protection system has been installed on the canopies. The electric meter was relocated. The site lighting is complete. Testing of the fire alarm system continues. The Primex clock system has been installed. Overall the team is very excited with the progress and quality of the work so far and will continue to work toward a timely completion of this project.