Every August, back-to-school momentum builds. Families fill backpacks, teachers decorate classrooms, and buses begin rolling down the streets.
For most people, this time of year is all about gearing up for that first day of class. But for those of us who have spent decades building, designing, and working in school systems, it’s something much more significant.
The truth? Students and schools matter now more than ever, and every successful school year begins long before the first bell rings on the first day. Behind every new school lies decades of planning, countless coordination meetings, and partnerships committed to creating spaces where students can learn, grow, and thrive.
New schools aren’t just modern buildings — they’re smarter, safer, more energy efficient, and purposefully-designed to incorporate state-of-the-art education models, while remaining flexible enough to serve students for generations.
Working with our design partners, we build dynamic environments that can help students stay more alert, improve attention spans, and learn in non-traditional ways. Fresh air (think upgraded HVAC infrastructure), natural lighting (an abundance of windows), thermal comfort (classroom temperature control), biophilic design (taking advantage of natural elements) and “clean” noise (meeting acoustic standards and ratings) have all been shown to positively influence student performance.
When we optimize the classroom environment and invest in our students today, it directly shapes the health of our community tomorrow.
As summer ends, our partners stand ready to welcome students into new facilities.
Here are four of our most recent school projects, all scheduled to open doors and welcome students when the first day of school begins.
Battlefield Park Elementary School Mechanicsville, VA | 94,000 SF
Hanover School District, located just outside Richmond, is experiencing rapid growth. This two-story replacement campus allowed students to watch their new school take shape while their existing campus remained fully operational.
Architect: Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates | Delivery Approach: Design-Bid-Build (GC)
Broad Ford School Oakland, MD | 107,290 SF
This school in Garrett County is a prime example of how to breathe new life into an existing campus, featuring renovation of a middle school, demolition of an elementary school, and new construction. Both phases took place on an occupied campus, so students got excited about the new space.
Architect: BFM Architects | Delivery Approach: CM at Risk
Hartwood High School Fredericksburg, VA | 299,192 SF
Hartwood is the first new high school in Stafford County since 2008. The three-story facility reflects SCPS’s updated Facility Design Standards, with a focus on energy efficiency, flex space, and specialized science and performing arts wings.
Architect: Grimm + Parker Architects | Delivery Approach: Design-Bid-Build (GC)
Jennie Dean Elementary School Manassas, VA | 112,299 SF
The replacement Jennie Dean Elementary School honors history and the remarkable legacy of its namesake educator while delivering a modern learning environment for 900 pre-K through fourth-grade students. Like others on this list, this project was built on an occupied campus.
Architect: RRMM Architects | Delivery Approach: Design-Bid-Build (GC) | Pursuing LEED® Silver Certification
Put our knowledge to work for you.
Through the years, we’ve watched tens of thousands students walk into schools our team helped build. We’re proud of that. Shockey continues to partner with communities and school districts across Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, and we currently have more than a million square feet of educational projects under construction.
If you’d like our pre-construction team to answer questions about estimating costs, or to assist with any aspect of the planning of your next school, let us know. The first step is easy: drop us an email at with SCHOOL in the subject line.