Head of the Class: Volusia County Beachside Elementary
It’s a retelling of “The Tale of Two Cities,” only this time with two schools and one goal in mind: to merge two buildings in the east-central part of Florida into one state-of-the-art elementary school. The Volusia County School District selected Ajax Building Company to consolidate the two primary schools and transform them into a 95,000sf structure, which will house approximately 750 student stations on the 11.9-acre site.
A MASTER PLAN
The Volusia County School Board decided to combine the two schools (Osceola and Ortona Elementary) to create a modern educational environment for the new generation. Partnering with BRPH architects and the district, the Ajax team jumped into implementing their master plan that features three
buildings, including the two-story Ortona Elementary School Classroom (Building A).
The project itself was Ajax’s first with the Volusia County School District and included the construction of a new 95,000sf, tiltwall building. The first phase began with facilitating the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) redevelopment and demolition of the Osceola Elementary School, followed by the civil-site work exercises. While that work ensued, Ajax completed the bidding and GMP contract for the remainder of the project. The redesign pays homage to both schools’ 1950s and ‘60s beachside heritage while fostering innovative possibilities for academic exploration and personal development.
PUT TO THE TEST
As one can imagine, the logistics of constructing a school on an active school campus was a potential challenge. The plan included first moving staff and students of Ortona Elementary into the existing Osceola Elementary School. The team then focused on a site logistics plan to coordinate transferring materials onto the jobsite from the back side of the school to avoid impacting the school-oriented, neighborhood community.
“Typically, building in a coastal area comes with its fair share of challenges,” says John Kavitz, Ajax project manager. “Working in a residential environment added an extra layer of complexity to the project, but our team handled it well.”
As with nearly every project right now, there were also challenges with the supply chain. The project required a great amount of cement, which affected the lightweight concrete roof installation, the sidewalks, and other structural elements. The team also coordinated with the owner for three months to obtain permanent power for the space. To keep the project on schedule, Ajax used generators to keep up with the schedule and install the HVAC systems.
“The phased project schedule had its challenges,” says Ajax operations manager Lon Neuman. “We conducted an early GMP to help expedite the project’s schedule, which included releasing some of the earlier packages before the final GMP. That made staying on top of the schedule achievable for our team.”
SHOW AND TELL
An innovative project designed for the upcoming generation of leaders should be built using an innovative construction technique. To manage
and document the project, the team used Procore, an all-in-one construction management software built to help complete quality projects—safely, on time, and within budget. Ajax also conducted electronic as-built drawings of the space, photographed the walls before they were covered, and provided a PDF to the owner.
“We also used QR codes and placed them on the major pieces of equipment,” says Neuman. “So rather than having to go find their warranty information, we’d just scan it with a smart device, and it shows all of the information on the equipment.”
Along with the three buildings, the project also includes two playgrounds, a basketball court, a bus loop, and a parent loop. Other features include a mechanical yard, site utilities including domestic water, fire water, and sanity and storm drainage.
According to Kavitz, what separates this project from others is the uniqueness of the buildings’ design. As a prototype building for the Volusia County School District, the exterior includes several bright colors and invites an engaging architectural experience.
“Our team quickly overcame the challenges we faced,” says Kavitz. “The Volusia County School District was excellent to work with as well. Our communication with the Volusia County School District was seamless and we’ve created an amazing partnership.”
Project Details:
Location: Daytona Beach, FL
Size: 95,000sf
Client: Volusia County
Architect: BRPH
Sector: Education
Completed: November 2022