Project Description
In 2022, the Charter School of the Dunes operated a single facility, serving nearly 700 students in K-8. The building was reaching capacity. The crowded building conditions resulted in ancillary space not being used as intended, and school administrative offices were relegated to temporary buildings adjacent to the facility. The school sought a solution to accommodate existing programs and current enrollment, as well as meet their needs in the future. It also wanted to expand offerings for early childhood education with the addition of a pre-kindergarten program. The school evaluated its options and decided to construct a new early-learning center to house pre-k through 2nd grade, and the existing building would be optimized for 3rd through 8th-grade students. The school issued an RFP for progressive design-build services in early 2022 and partnered with Performance Services for the design and construction of the project.
The project began in Fall 2022 and was completed in Spring 2024. The new early learning center features 14 classrooms, student dining, a media center, a multi-purpose gymnasium, administrative spaces, and its own secure entrance. The project also includes new parking lots and improved site and traffic work between the two buildings. No changes were made to the existing building, which the school transitioned into an intermediate elementary/middle school building.
