Pinellas County Boca Ciega High School (Gold LEED Award Winner)
LOCATION: Gulfport, Florida OWNER: Pinellas County Schools
BUDGET: $66,819,573
ARCHITECT: Harvard Jolly Architects
COMPLETION DATE: April 2012
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The new Boca Ciega High School is a 360,000 SF facility situated on 40 acres in Gulfport, Florida. The design of this school was influenced by the Daggett Model of small learning communities.
Construction was phased in order to keep the staff and students on their home campus while their new school was built. Much coordination was required between Ajax Building Corporation, Pinellas County Schools, and Boca Ciega High School to maintain a fully accessible campus during this 4 year project.
There were two main phases in the project, both containing renovation and new construction work. Phase 1 consisted of renovation of the Gymnasium, Auditorium, and Music Building as well as new construction of a 120,000 SF 3-Story classroom building and the new Central Energy Plant to support the work completed in this phase. Upon the completion of Phase 1, the staff and students moved into their new and renovated buildings which allowed for demolition of the buildings they were using and subsequently signaled the start of Phase 2. Phase 2 work included renovation of the Medical Magnet Building, Medical Magnet Teaching Auditorium, Technology Building, Stadium, and conversion of the former Media Center into classroom space for the Medical Magnet and JROTC. These buildings were completed early in Phase 2 and were in use ahead the new 103,000 SF Administration, Media Center, Cafeteria, and classroom building, which opened to classes in October 2011.