Colby Rose, LEED AP, Vice President and General Manager of Cadence McShane Construction Company, is pleased to announce that Houston Independent School District (Houston ISD) has selected the firm to complete the new 120,000-square-foot Barbara Jordan High School for Careers campus.
The two-story LEED-Certified building, located at 5800 Eastex Freeway in northeast Houston, will replace the existing high school facility following completion in Q3 2018. The project award comes on the heels of Cadence McShane’s recent delivery of the 237,000-square-foot Sterling Aviation High School for Houston ISD.
Barbara Jordan High School for Careers is transitioning from a career magnet school into a regional career hub. The school will provide students from area high schools with real-world experiences in a variety of professions, including: auto/diesel, audio/visual, construction management, cosmetology, culinary arts, marketing/entrepreneurship, STEM (electronics) and welding. Students will spend half of the day at their home high school where they will take required academic classes and the other half at Barbara Jordan for career-specific learning.
Cadence McShane will construct the new high school utilizing metal stud framing clad with masonry veneer. Sleek window lines and an eye-catching aluminum canopy at the main entryway will elevate the contemporary design. The use of sustainable features and construction practices will be employed throughout the project to achieve LEED-Silver certification such as a comprehensive waste diversion program, efficient HVAC and air quality control measures.
Inside, the educational facility incorporates 25 classrooms, six laboratories and a variety of technical learning spaces supporting the various curriculums available to students. The high school will also feature a cafeteria with commercial kitchen, indoor and outdoor collaborative gathering areas, a child care center and an innovative career exploration theater.
“Cadence McShane is pleased to have been selected by Houston ISD for the construction of this vital educational institution in Houston,” remarked Rose. “Our firm has built countless schools throughout the Houston area and state of Texas, but it’s especially impactful knowing that these students are getting the education they need to serve in trades within our communities. We look forward to delivering an exceptional career hub that will support the education of these students and enhance the high-quality of learning that Barbara Jordan High School for Careers is known for.”
As part of the assignment, Cadence McShane is completing all sitework including paved sidewalks, parking for 231 vehicles and landscaping. The firm will also demolish the existing campus once the new school is complete.
Corgan is serving as project architect and Heery International as program manager.