OCPS Chain of Lakes Middle School

Support Center

COMPLETION DATE:

AUGUST 1999

PROJECT SIZE:

165,000 SQUARE FEET 8 BUILDING CAMPUS

PROJECT COST:

$16.8 MILLION

PRESENT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Project Overview

Chain of Lakes Middle School is a comprehensive educational complex located in Orlando, Florida. This $16.8 million project for Orange County Public Schools was a joint venture that showcases innovative design and efficient construction methods in educational architecture.

Project Scope

CTG was responsible for the following aspects of the Chain of Lakes Middle School project:

Estimating
Value engineering
Procurement and management of long-lead items
Construction contracting
Construction of eight buildings totaling 165,000 s.f.
Related roadwork
Development of parking lots
Construction of playing fields and other outdoor activity areas
Implementation of a storm water management system
Coordination of all subcontractors and trades
Quality control and assurance throughout the construction process
Adherence to project timeline and budget constraints

Key Features:

Eight-building campus totaling 165,000 s.f.
21 general classrooms
8 science labs
6 developmental skills labs
3 large technology labs
Band room
Vocal classroom
Music lab/classroom
Home economics lab
Art lab
Agribusiness lab
Administrative spaces
Cafeteria
Lounge areas
Gymnasium
CCTV studio
Enhanced security features:
- Dispersed administrative offices for better supervision
- Only five entrances to the interior campus courtyard

Construction Approach

Multi-building campus design for enhanced functionality
Integration of outdoor spaces including playing fields and activity areas
Implementation of storm water management system
Focus on security through strategic building layout and entrance control

Project Challenges

Complex Site Management

Coordinating construction across eight separate buildings while maintaining overall project coherence and efficiency.

Diverse Facility Integration

Incorporating a wide range of specialized spaces (e.g., science labs, technology labs, CCTV studio) within a cohesive educational environment.

Security Implementation

Balancing the need for enhanced security measures with the creation of an open, welcoming learning environment.

Storm Water Management

Designing and implementing an effective storm water system to accommodate Florida’s climate and protect the extensive outdoor areas.

Traffic Flow

Developing efficient roadwork and parking solutions to manage the flow of students, staff, and visitors across the large campus.

Budget Control

Managing costs across multiple building projects and extensive outdoor developments within the $16.8 million budget.

Future Proofing

Designing the school to accommodate potential future technological advancements and changes in educational methodologies presented additional planning challenges.

Timeline Adherence

Completing the large-scale, multi-faceted project by the August 1999 deadline to ensure readiness for the new school year.

Subcontractor Coordination

Efficiently managing and coordinating multiple subcontractors across various specialized areas of the project.

Environmental Considerations

Integrating the extensive outdoor areas, including playing fields, while minimizing environmental impact.

Industrial/Transportation