As schools sit empty and students adjust to learning from home under the current stay-at-home order, many local school construction projects continue to progress.
Hollis + Miller Architects, who specializes in education (architecture and design) and works with a large number of Kansas City-area school districts, has not seen much of a slowdown on their schools’ projects.
The firm is currently working on several school projects to ensure they are ready for the upcoming school year, including Park Hill School District's LEAD Innovation Studio, Liberty School District's Performing Arts Center and new additions to Blue Springs High School, including a state-of-the-art band practice space.
While safety for all contractors has been paramount, the projects have nevertheless been able to move forward, despite the current obstacles.
“We’ve implemented procedures to ensure we maintain project safety and are meeting the safety guidelines of the authorities,” said Mike Chiles, senior project manager for JE Dunn Construction, who is overseeing the trade partners on the Blue Springs HS project.
“Communication is key, and the teams have handled that well with daily huddles and constant on-site supervision,” Chiles said.
Chiles admits the current situation isn’t ideal; nonetheless, has encouraged the team to overcome any obstacles in an effort to keep construction progressing and on schedule.
“It’s a major project for the school and the community, and it will allow them to really expand their programs and ability to impact the community,” Chiles said.
“Maintaining those partnerships among the architect, contractors and trade partners is crucial, especially when a project is facing additional challenges like they are now,” said Kirk Horner, partner at Hollis + Miller.
Several projects remain on schedule to open in time for the fall 2020 school year.
“While the local community will take a while to bounce back from this, we see this kind of construction as a positive sign of economic health. Our local schools are committed to consistently improving the learning environments for our local students, and we’re privileged to contribute to that effort,” Horner said.