Cadence McShane Construction Company held a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of the 80,000-square-foot IDEA Hardy facility on November 12th. The ceremony included keynote speakers Allison Serafin – Executive Director at IDEA Public Schools Greater Houston, Ernie Cockrell – Cockrell Family Foundation, Alejandra Munoz Torres – IDEA Public School Alumni, and JoAnn Gama – Co-Founder of IDEA Public Schools. Groundbreaking attendees included Council Members from the City of Houston, Program Manager – PMSI staff members, and IDEA Public School Board and Staff Members.
Cadence McShane is serving as the general contractor for this new facility located in North Houston, at 1930 Little York Road. Designed by Corgan, the new two-story building consists of a steel structure with a fiber cement panel and a curtain wall veneer. The interior of IDEA Hardy will include a full-sized cafeteria with a commercial kitchen, classrooms and science laboratories, as well as athletic, administrative, and support spaces. The school will initially serve students in grades kindergarten, first, second, and sixth grades. As the school continues to grow, IDEA Hardy plans to add a grade level each school year, eventually serving students in pre-K through 12th grade.
IDEA Public Schools, a charter school system which stands for Individuals Dedicated to Excellence and Achievement, serve Pre-K through 12th grade students across Texas and Southern Louisiana, with a commitment to a vision of College for all Children. IDEA Hardy is the first of two facilities the charter school program is building in the Greater Houston region.
“We are proud to begin construction of this facility for an exceptional program that will support and prepare students from underserved communities for success in school and beyond” stated Colby Rose, Vice President and General Manager of Cadence McShane’s Houston region. “We look forward to partnering with the community to deliver a best-in-class facility of learning and growth for students of IDEA Public Schools.”
Cadence McShane will work closely with Corgan, IDEA Public Schools, and Program Manager, PMSI, to make this outstanding school vision become a reality. IDEA Hardy is scheduled to open for the 2020-2021 school year.