Working with the city of Alexandria, Va., Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and Alexandria City Public Schools, the Keller Construction Management team replaced and expanded an existing elementary school and recreation center, combining them into one building with shared facilities.

Constructed within 10 ft of the existing school, the finished floor elevation of the new building was approximately 4 ft higher than the existing building’s floor elevation. Facing some of the highest rainfall totals on record, the team was challenged to keep rainwater from breaching the sediment and erosion control measures put in place for the existing building.

Installation of permanent power was delayed after the utility provider changed the initial primary electrical design. Keller utilized a series of generators to provide temporary electricity to the building for construction while the redesign was approved and implemented.

The 900-student, 137,000-sq-ft school features a three-story academic wing, which houses a cafetorium, multipurpose room, music rooms, art rooms, a black box theater, a media center, a lobby, a health room, science labs and classrooms.

The 18,000-sq-ft recreational center includes flexible spaces for various uses as well as indoor walking and running lanes, a fitness room and administrative space. The LEED Silver certified facility was delivered on time and under budget.

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