With completion of a new academy of technology, engineering, mathematics and science dubbed The LIFT in August 2021, the Abilene community has a $38.6-million, two-story career and technical education high school capable of serving 1,600 students. The campus consists of 20 academic classrooms, an art room, computer labs, science classrooms with labs, a robotics lab, an automotive technology shop, a welding shop, a construction technology shop, a culinary kitchen and a TV studio.

Although long envisioned by the Abilene Independent School District, the project was challenged from the outset when bids came in approximately $5 million over budget. Contractor SEDALCO’s preconstruction department worked with subcontractors and suppliers to provide a comprehensive list of cost savings ideas. After several meetings, various suggestions were selected that allowed the project to get back on budget without sacrificing the design intent. The extensive number of changes required additional attention to construction plans and the schedule to make sure they reflected the changes.