What You Need to Know:��

• The new 46,500-square-foot Early College High School facility is complete in Round Rock, Texas, expanding the program’s permanent capacity to 500 students.��

• The $31 million project replaces portable classrooms with a��consolidated��campus featuring 14 classrooms, labs, collaboration areas and indoor and outdoor athletics and dining space.��

• HPM��provided preconstruction, project��management��and quality control across the project lifecycle, from design through closeout.��

• The campus is tied to Round Rock ISD’s 2018 bond program, and HPM says it is supporting��additional��work tied to the district’s 2024 bond program.��

Learn More��

ROUND ROCK, Texas — Construction was recently��completed a $31 million Early College High School facility for Round Rock Independent School District in Round Rock, Texas, outside Austin, moving the program from portable buildings into a new permanent campus for the Spring 2026 semester. The community celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 13.

The 46,500-square-foot building is designed to support the district’s early college model, which combines high school instruction with college-level coursework and allows participating students to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.��

The project increases enrollment capacity to 500 students and��consolidates��instructional and��student-support��spaces under one roof.��The facility is��located on Austin Community College’s Round Rock campus, providing��students��access to nearby higher-education resources.��

Program elements include 14 classrooms, eight study rooms and three labs, along with a large��common area��and an administration suite, HPM said. Student amenities include a cafeteria with a 12-by-8-foot��video wall, an indoor gym, an outdoor basketball court, and outdoor dining and study areas.��

HPM��provided preconstruction services, project management and quality control for the build and managed the effort from design through closeout. Bartlett Cocke served as general contractor,��with��O’Connell Robertson��serving��as��architect.��Rabaa Kistner��provided��geotechnical and construction materials testing services.��

“This facility��represents��more than just classrooms and labs.��It’s��a space where students can explore,��grow��and prepare for their futures. Collaborating with the Round Rock ISD to bring this vision to life reinforces our shared commitment to strengthening learning environments that serve students and the community for years to come,” said Denish��Sonani, senior manager of design and construction at HPM.��

The project is part of Round Rock ISD’s 2018 bond program, which the district’s voters approved to fund new facilities,��renovations��and infrastructure improvements. HPM��will continue��to support the��district through its 2024 bond program and is in the design phase for more than 15 projects that will address upcoming campus enhancements and infrastructure needs.��

Attribution: This article is based on information provided by HPM in a Jan. 16,��2026��project completion announcement and an HPM project update dated May 16, 2024.��

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By Tracy Richter

One of the most pressing challenges in the world of K-12 education is aging school facilities and infrastructure. Despite an average of over $18 billion annually spent on K-12 school construction over the past 15 years, the average age of main instructional facilities is approaching 50 years nationally and fewer than half of these facilities have undergone significant renovations or replacement since their original construction. Since 2010, a majority of the funding has been directed toward new construction, with budgets prioritizing new facilities over maintaining existing ones, leading to a growing funding gap for necessary repairs.����

Contrary to traditional thought, the approach to comprehensive facilities planning is often not an architectural solution, but a much deeper dive into what drives the need for improved facilities and infrastructure. This is reinforced by the fact that a majority of K-12 districts prioritize facilities planning only when they are anticipating a request for funding from their communities. However, facilities planning may be more critical when funding is at risk. Outdated, often dilapidated buildings combined with rapidly changing demographic factors and the evolution of educational pedagogy make it increasingly difficult for school districts to meet the needs of the modern student population.������

Starting With the “Why?”: Focus on Your Educational Mission��

Improving existing infrastructure begins with understanding the desired intent of the school facility, both today and in the future. It is imperative to modernize existing facilities and keep them rooted in the core of education, while creating an experience instead of just a space.������

A strategy that planners can emphasize to district leadership is programmatic attraction. Districts should evaluate the programming and amenities available to students at each school. These can include STEM, performing arts, athletics, foreign language immersion, career readiness/workforce development and early college programs. By improving the programmatic offerings, which cater to the user experience and adequately prepare students for college and life after graduation, districts can better attract students to formerly under-enrolled schools. Increasing attendance at these types of schools is often achieved through programmatic choice pathways. Coupling this with demographic analysis such as a live/attend study, which indicates where students live versus where they attend school, can provide valuable insight into why students choose different schools outside their boundaries.��

Understanding the “Gap”: How Do Districts Get Where They Want to Be?����

A comprehensive diagnosis of a district’s facilities is a critical step to understanding the “gap” between where you are today and where you aspire your facilities to be. Facility assessments should contain two major components: a physical assessment of the component and system condition that make up the bones of the facility, and an educational adequacy assessment that is measured against educational standards of today and in the future. The K-12 planning process begins with an Educational Adequacy Assessment, during which faculty groups identify the essential components for effective learning spaces. A facility walk-through evaluates the presence of these components. Following this, a Facility Condition Assessment is conducted to analyze building conditions and maintenance costs, highlighting the importance of performing the Educational Adequacy Assessment first to avoid cost increases. After all the assessments have been completed, a State of Schools Report is created, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of data including enrollment, utilization and demographics, in easy-to-understand graphs.��

Based on the assessments, planning services professionals develop solutions, such as renovations or new additions, to meet the district’s needs. These options are then presented to the district administration. Then, community meetings are held to gather feedback through surveys. Community input is crucial for refining recommendations and addressing stakeholder concerns. Finally, a 10-year facilities management plan is developed, which outlines service needs, timelines and costs. This plan will guide the district’s current and future initiatives.��

Who Are You Serving?: How Demographic Shifts Affect Infrastructure Decisions��

Demographics are ever-changing, leading to uncertainty among district leadership about how to address aging facilities appropriately. Factors such as declining birth rates, homes not regenerating school-age students and a lack of affordable housing have all led to uncertainty when projecting how many students a district will serve in the future.������

According to CDC data, the U.S. birth rate has been steadily declining, with a 2% annual drop since before the COVID crisis. Birth rates are now highest among women aged 30–34 — a shift from 2005, when the peak was 25–29 — while teenage pregnancies have fallen sharply. Together, these trends will continue to impact district enrollment in the years ahead.����

The housing market has also played a large role in enrollment shifts. The rapid increase in housing costs has meant that the typical empty nester who would choose to downsize to a smaller footprint is not as frequent as it once was. Going to half the house for twice the money and three times the interest rate is not a desirable goal for most.������

In many cities across the country, the gentrification of housing driven by the goal of progress and improvement has become the norm. However, the increase in housing costs in urban communities and large metro areas continues to be felt by school-aged families who can no longer afford to live in these areas. This has led to an increase in transience among school-aged families, making them less likely to settle in one district throughout their children’s years in K-12.����

Read the full article, including insights on how planning services canhelp school districts with aging facilities, in the Planning & Construction issue of ���سԹ�.

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By Lindsey Coulter��

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Earlier this month, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, celebrated a milestone in the construction of the new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts. University representatives and members of the project team gathered for the project’s topping out ceremony as the final vertical beam was added to the building’s structure. Serving as the new home for the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance, the project is expected to be completed by November 2026 after breaking ground in 2023.

When complete, the 130,088-square-foot Smith Family Center for Performing Arts will provide a performance venue for the Department of Theatre and Dance, consolidating all of the department’s performances and academic functions into a single area of campus. The building will hold a 350-seat drama theater, a 450-seat dance theater and a 250-seat studio theater. These performance spaces will allow for an intimate artist-to-audience connections. Meanwhile, costume, scenery, production and lighting studios sized and equipped to match commercial studios will ensure that design and technical students experience a seamless transition into the professional world. Adjustable acoustics in the drama theatres and precisely engineered floors for dance will allow faculty to train students in facilities equivalent to the ones in which they will be working as professionals. Faculty offices and classrooms for the department will be relocated to the Peter Bryce Main building, which will be connected to the Smith Family Center by its new lobby.

HPM is providing program and project management for construction of the center, working to oversee budget control, scheduling and project management through every phase of construction from planning to closeout. TurnerBatson Architects is serving as the architect on the project, while M.J. Harris Construction Services LLC is serving as the general contractor.

“The Smith Family Center for Performing Arts will be a centerpiece for creativity and learning on campus, and reaching the topping out is a testament to our teams’ expertise and dedication to getting the job done on time,” said Austin Fisher, senior project manager at HPM, in a statement. We look forward to bringing the vision for this facility to life and delivering a space that will inspire generations of students, faculty members and audiences.”

The Performing Arts Academic Center is intended to be a marquee public space for the campus community as well as visitors, bringing student artists, faculty mentors, arts lovers, community members and visitors together to explore the arts in a one-of-a-kind facility.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Historically Black Drake State Community and Technical College’s Building 700 got a new life as the home for the school’s nursing program, which had outgrown the campus’s Building 100. The work, commencing in June 2022, was undertaken by construction management firm HPM of Birmingham as part of a $15 million schoolwide improvement project. HPM worked in conjunction with designer Nola VanPeursem, located in Huntsville.

The new nursing building contains four skills labs and two simulation laboratories. Nearly a half-million dollars of modern equipment, such as training mannequins and medical carts, was purchased and added to the school as part of the redesign.

Meanwhile, Drake State’s library was modified to serve several additional functions, including as the administration space and campus bookstore. The library facilities remain on the first two floors, which also include financial aid and academic advising offices, a testing center, lounge and gameroom. The building was also given a fresh paint job and the ceiling upgraded as well.

“The completion of these renovations marks a pivotal moment in Drake State’s commitment to academic excellence,” Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims said. “Our updated library and the transformation of Building 700 to accommodate our expanding nursing programs will enhance student experiences and cultivate a dynamic learning environment.

“We extend our appreciation to HPM for their expertise and dedication throughout this project, which will impact our students for years to come.”

HPM’s duties included preconstruction services such as estimating and drawing reviews, field coordination, project management, and closeout services. The firm also overhauled a mechanical yard attached to Building 700, installing new electrical equipment and two chillers as well.

“The new library and nursing school facilities at Drake State Community and Technical College will greatly enhance student life and overall campus involvement, said HPM President Ryan Austin. “While we have had a long-standing relationship with the Alabama Community College System, this is our first project with Drake State.”

In a subsequent statement sent to ���سԹ�, Austin said that construction work had to be undertaken carefully as the campus remained operational during the buildout.

“As with any on-campus project, one of the biggest challenges was ensuring progress while minimizing the impact on the school’s ongoing operations,” he said. “Our project team carefully considered the impact that construction would have on the campus and coordinated schedules, shutdowns and work during times that would have the least impact on campus operations. In order to stay on schedule and avoid disruptions, we bid out mechanical and electrical equipment packages prior to the construction package in order to get in front of long lead times and supply chain issues.”

HPM’s other education-related construction work includes Coleman Coliseum and Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility at the University of Alabama, Texas Tech University’s Jones AT&T East Side Stadium, and the Daniel Meyer Coliseum and Lupton Baseball Field at Texas Christian University.

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FLORENCE, Ala.—The University of North Alabama has chosen HPM to oversee construction of the campus’s new Bank Independent Stadium. Baseball, soccer and football will all be played at the stadium, which is expected to be up and running for those sporting events in time for the 2026-2027 school year. Davis Architects will serve as architect-of-record for the sports-and-entertainment complex, which will stand where the school’s current turf field, Mike D. Lane Field and a grass practice field are located.

HPM will provide preconstruction services including budgeting, design management, contract negotiation and risk assessment. The design phase, anticipated to be completed later this year, will be followed by a more detailed construction and cost plan.

“The forthcoming Bank Independent Stadium is an exciting addition to our extensive portfolio of sports and recreation projects across the country, and we have seen immense demand for these types of facilities in Alabama as our state’s population continues to grow,” HPM Vice President of Program Development Ben Henson said of the stadium project. “We’re looking forward to working alongside the University of North Alabama to deliver this highly anticipated multipurpose facility, which will serve as a transformative community venue and a catalyst for Florence’s burgeoning growth story.”

Added Evan Thornton, UNA CFO and Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs at the university: “We are excited about this next step in the process of seeing the Bank Independent Stadium come to life at the University of North Alabama. HPM and Davis Architects will be tremendous assets to us as we embark on this historic project.”

Among HPM’s many other notable educational performance venue projects are several for the University of Alabama as well as Daniel Meyer Coliseum and Lupton Baseball Field at Texas Christian University.

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MANOR, Tex.—Program management firm HPM has successfully delivered two new schools in the Austin suburbs for the Manor Independent School District. Ribbon-cuttings were recently held to celebrate the new schools, Manor Rise Academy and Manor Early College High School.

Manor Rise Academy is a $45 million, 116,000-square-foot school whose amenities include a competition gym that can seat up to 500 spectators. Manor Rise also offers a media center, art rooms, performing arts classrooms and collaboration areas. The grounds host various athletic fields as well as playgrounds and outdoor learning areas. The Rise Academy was designed by ADM Group and built by general contractor Lee Lewis.

Meanwhile, the $35.5 million Manor Early College High School encompasses 85,000 square feet of educational space located adjacent to the existing high school. The facility will educate 800 9-12 students in various technical and career fields. Its open campus concept is meant to mimic the experience of being at an actual college, with a coffee shop and cafeteria also available for students. Claycomb Associates designed Manor Early College High School, which was built by general contractor Satterfield & Pontikes.

Voters approved a $280 million bond in November 2019 to fund these construction projects, which were needed as Texas’s capital region is experiencing tremendous growth. The moneys are being used both to construct new schools as well as upgrade older facilities, modernize transportation and security, and make other needed repairs throughout Manor ISD.

HPM provided quality control and preconstruction services for both schools, as well as project management and budget compliance. Other partners at the two schools included civil engineer Civiltude and geotechnical engineer Raba Kistner.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the pair of schools, HPM President Ryan Austin praised his team for keeping the construction work on schedule.

“We thank the school district for its invaluable support and collaboration during these projects, and to our partners for ensuring success in the construction of these schools,” said Austin. “As we move ahead on additional projects with the school district, we look forward to providing more quality program management services as we expand our footprint further into Manor.”

Manor ISD is anticipated to increase its enrollment by nearly 5 percent in the next decade alone. Current projections show that the greater Austin area will surpass San Antonio in population by 2040. Already the community of Manor—12 miles outside of Austin itself—has experienced a 160 percent population growth just since 2010. Manor ISD is anticipating an increase of 2,600 more students in its district within the next half-decade.

HPM, which is based in Birmingham, Ala., engages in construction and design, as well as real estate acquisition analysis, auditing and facilities assessments. In addition to K-12, the firm is engaged in work in such sectors as government, industrial and commercial construction.

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MANOR, Tex.—The Manor Independent School District recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the district’s new K-8 technology campus. School officials were joined by representatives of architect ADM Group, Inc., construction manager at risk Lee Lewis Construction Inc. and planning designer HPM.

As part of a $280 million bond package approved by voters in 2019, the Manor Independent School District is making improvements throughout its purview to accommodate an increasing student population. This also necessitated the new technology campus.

The new campus will entail 40 acres, and its 116,000-square-foot building will host 800 children.�� The school’s amenities will include athletic facilities and seating for 500 spectators, as well as art rooms, media center and various flexible classrooms and outdoors learning spaces.

“Not only is this a momentous occasion for Manor ISD because it marks the first step in building a new state-of-the-art facility for our district’s scholars, but it is groundbreaking because it will be the first campus of its kind in our region,” Dr. Andre D. Spencer, Manor ISD’s superintendent, said in a recent statement. “This campus will serve K-8 students under one roof, which is a rare educational model in the public school system in our state. We are excited about the many proven benefits of this model, including lower levels of anxiety among middle schoolers.”

Program manager HPM is providing quality control, preconstruction services, schedule maintenance and project management for the tech campus.

“HPM is proud to lead Manor ISD and our project partners through the development of this exciting project,” Andrew Betts, HPM senior program manager, said. “This campus will provide a unique opportunity to incorporate technology and interactive learning within nine levels of education, all on one campus.

“The ceremony is a symbol of Manor ISD’s commitment to providing the best educational resources for the scholars within this community.”

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Making an ambitious entrée into the world of culinary education, a unique new facility at Auburn University is taking hands-on learning to new heights for aspiring chefs and hospitality leaders. The university chose program management firm HPM to serve as the construction manager for the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, a groundbreaking, dual-purpose building that will house a learning environment blended with a luxury boutique hotel, restaurant and food hall.

In this role, HPM is providing project management support for Auburn’s Facilities Management Administration in the ongoing construction of the world-class educational and hospitality facility, drawing on its years of experience leading hotel and higher education projects across the U.S. Designed by Cooper Carry, the fresh facility aims to be ready for students in the fall of 2022.

Located at the corner of East Thach Avenue and South College Street in downtown Auburn, Alabama, the 142,000-square-foot complex will facilitate hands-on, immersive learning experiences for students pursuing careers in hospitality and culinary sciences. Through the addition of classrooms, demonstration and food production laboratories, a brewing science center, and new teaching restaurant on the property, students will be able to train alongside some of the world’s leading chefs and hospitality experts. Those rare opportunities will play an invaluable role in equipping students with vital skills that will help position them as future leaders in the culinary and hospitality industries.

The luxury hotel portion of the project is seeking to achieve the AAA Five Diamond certification, an extremely elusive title that is given to less than half of one percent of the 27,000 hotels evaluated annually. The ability for students to learn in a hands-on culinary facility and work in a Five Diamond hotel is an experience that no other institution in the country currently offers. HPM previously served as the owner’s representative during construction of a $35 million AAA Five Diamond Hotel in Houston, Texas, which has provided the university with unique insight on the high-caliber design and quality execution that is required to achieve the coveted honor.

Since joining the project, HPM has provided value to the university, including scoping out and managing the bidding of a separate utility and enabling works package for the building contractor, which bypassed time-intensive utility relocations and kept the overall project schedule on track. The firm’s dedication to collaborative pre-planning and ability to deploy best practices gleaned from managing other complex projects in higher education and hospitality have enabled project partners to maintain budget efficiency and create additional value for the university.

“Auburn’s Culinary Science Center is a great fit for us because of our extensive resume in providing program management leadership on other high-profile hospitality and higher education initiatives,” said HPM President Ryan Austin. “With so many moving parts involved in a project of this size and scope, it’s crucial to have a seasoned owner’s representative that can quickly create and implement processes to keep things moving while maintaining cost efficiency for the university. We’re honored to partner with Auburn on building this state-of-the-art facility and look forward to its completion.”

Construction on The Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center began in April 2020. Auburn alumnus and Board of Trustees member Jimmy Rane helped kickstart the project with a $12 million gift dedicated to the building’s construction. The board later approved naming the facility in honor of his parents, Tony and Libba Rane.

HPM provides comprehensive planning, design and construction-related experiences in order to offer clients a one-stop approach to complete program management and owner’s representation.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated version of a feature that initially appeared in the March/April 2022 issue of ���سԹ�.

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