GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. — The Goochland County School Board voted 5-0 to hire Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc. for the construction of its new elementary school.
The new facility will serve 650 K-5 students and 50 preschool students and will include a gym, a media center, and modern security systems.
A stakeholder group (made up of local citizens, current and former educators, school district central office and building-level leadership, and a student) created a customized design vision for the school in coordination with educational experts. The group toured existing schools across Virginia, studied how architecture can be leveraged as an effective medium for enhancing teaching and learning, and considered what principles should be reflected in the design of the new school. The group set forth four key design elements, stating that the new facility should be:
- flexible and adaptable
- collaborative and engaging
- student-centered and age-appropriate
- connected to the site and nature
The initial design for the project first began in September 2021 when school staff worked with the school division’s owner’s representative, MBP, and the project architect, Stantec.
Stantec presented a preliminary design to the board in December 2021. Several adjustments had to be made along the way to account for inflation and supply chain issues. Stantec presented another, more compact design to the school in November 2022.
“We are excited to move this project forward and are very grateful for the support of the Board of Supervisors,” Division Superintendent Jeremy Raley, said. “Unexpected cost increases might have jeopardized this project; however, through collaboration, teamwork, and perseverance, we are now able to construct a school that will meet the needs of our students, teachers, and community for decades to come. Our community’s children are the beneficiaries of this work, and I am extremely grateful for the unwavering support we have received for this project.”
This project will be funded with bond financing that was approved by voters in 2021, as well as with other local funding.
The school division issued its Notice to Proceed on January 12, and construction is expected to begin within a few weeks.
The new Goochland Elementary School is slated to open for the 2024-2025 school year with substantial completion expected on May 31, 2024, and final completion on June 28, 2024.
Source: Read the original story at WRIC by Delaney Murray