Metal Building System Offers An Educated Solution To A School Building Challenge
By Wendy Burke, Linbeck
What do you do when your school needs a new building, but you have a very tight budget, specialized educational needs and a compressed timeline? In many cases, a metal building system offers a solid solution, as the following case study confirms.
Whether public or private, there are many issues to consider when constructing a new school building. Costs need to be balanced with the needs and concerns of the students, teachers and community. And when a new building is to be constructed next to, or as a part of existing facilities, safety, traffic and other concerns must also be considered.
One nationwide charter school, KIPP, or the Knowledge is Power Program, needed to develop a sensibly-priced and purpose-driven plan for their KIPP Way campus in Houston, Texas. KIPP is a nationwide network of over 50 schools that emphasize academics and character building. It works with students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in communities that are educationally under-served. Texas charter schools receive no public subsidies for facilities, so capital funds are very tight and must be stretched to achieve highest and best use. The KIPP Way campus required the design and development of facilities for elementary, middle school, and high school students.
A Sensible Price For A Purpose-Driven Plan
When looking at new buildings, public schools typically have construction costs that average around $130 per square foot. Due to budgetary limitations KIPP’s first building on KIPP Way, the middle school, had a proposed budget considerably less.
To contain costs, the collaborative design and construction team and KIPP personnel had to work together very closely. Communication and collaboration were essential in developing building designs that fit all the requirements, coordinating complex project safety and completing each building in time for the projected opening dates. Houston-based Linbeck served as both the project and construction manager. Gensler’s Houston office provided design services, and there were several specialty manufacturers employed on the project.
Finding A Practical Solution
Before beginning, the various design and construction representatives had to analyze and understand exactly what KIPP needed. They met with and listened to various stakeholders to get a feel for the institution, the people and how the buildings would be used and treated. Once this was done, the team defined cost-effective and practical solutions to address the diverse needs, hopes and expectations.
Beyond Extraordinary
KIPP schools operate year-round so work had to take place when existing classrooms were full and on-campus traffic and activity was constant. These were far from ordinary circumstances.
Safety was naturally a primary concern, with children, parents, teachers and administrators coming and going just outside the construction site all day long, five or six days a week. Traffic flow and on-site parking were also safety issues. As construction began, it was clear the construction team would need to work odd hours so they did not interfere with the ongoing educational activities in the adjacent buildings.
Could They Pull It Off?
If this campus expansion was a success—that is, if it came in on budget and met the school’s needs when in use—then it would serve as a prototype for other KIPP buildings around Houston. All the members of the team had a stake in making it work. In the end, they decided that a metal building system was the best possible choice to effectively meet all the challenges.
Schools, be they public, private or a combination, are often bound by tradition and traditional thinking when looking at new buildings. By looking at new possibilities—peering outside the box—KIPP was able to come up with a solution that saved time and money and streamlined coordination and schedule constraints. All three schools; middle, high and elementary, were delivered for 23-28% less than the average cost of new school construction using standard building methods.
Why Meddle With Metal?
The metal building systems used for this campus expansion were one key to project success. Metal buildings, like the ones KIPP used, have a number of advantages over traditional construction for this specific type of application. This building system approach is particularly cost-effective since the owner only pays for the system components that are engineered prior to construction—there is no excess material. Additionally, with a metal building, much of the material can be (and in this case was) fabricated off-site. This allows for minimal disruption on-site, reduces staffing needs, and accommodates an expedited construction schedule.
“Metal buildings are both versatile and cost-effective,” notes Charles Praeger, assistant general manager for the Metal Building Manufacturers Association. “Metal building systems can help builders and owners meet their needs in a short amount of time and provide energy-efficient spaces that reduce the facility’s carbon footprint.”
While a metal building component system was a solid choice for KIPP, it also required some special attention to make sure the completed projects were sufficiently waterproof. Flashing and other waterproofing strategies were applied to the walls and roof. The construction team also took special care to seal all building penetrations, including vents, insets, beams and windows.
A Simple, Smart Space
The final product was an award-winning campus that exceeded KIPP’s expectations. The metal building frames are clad with corrugated metal walls and feature energy-efficient metal roofing. The exterior framing is exposed and operates as a design feature, providing an attractive façade. Additionally, the number and variety of windows give the structures a unique character that captures the essence of KIPP’s spirit.
In the end, the upgraded campus was exactly what KIPP needed. Mike Feinberg, KIPP’s founder, commented, “The quality of construction is outstanding; the construction cost was in budget; and the construction schedule and planning has been successful.”
As a result of the success of the KIPP Way campus, KIPP is now constructing or planning a total of 42 campuses in the Houston area, incorporating similar metal building solutions.
Wendy Burke is vice president, client development for Houston-based Linbeck. She can be reached at wburke@linbeck.com or (713) 966-5834.