Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP), a top national construction management firm and general contractor, and Douglas Unified School District #27 (DUSD) broke ground on an expansion and renovation project for Douglas High School (DHS) in Douglas, Arizona.
The $27 million project includes four new pre-engineered metal buildings encompassing 8129 m2 (87,502 sf), additional classrooms, and new athletics equipment and facilities. AP will also pave a new fire lane, pour a concrete paver turnaround for visitor access, and install a new canopy shade structure. The new structures will sit north of the existing campus on approximately 4.4 ha (11 acres) between Estrella and Eddie Avenues.
“We’re pleased to start on such a significant project for the community,” said Scott Salyer, vice-president of operations construction for AP. “While we’ve completed a slew of expansion and renovation projects within the Phoenix-Tucson metro area, this is our first in southeast Arizona. We worked directly with DUSD and local subcontractors to ensure the best use of school and state funds, and we look forward to continue working with them throughout the construction process to deliver the project on time.”
Douglas High School’s new and upgraded buildings will feature a new cafeteria, an upgraded commons area, a counseling department, 16 multipurpose and multiple science classrooms with lab space for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) classes, and an innovative area for students with special needs.
The expansion will also provide the school with multiple areas to increase and upgrade its career and technical education programs and a new theater for its performing arts program. Lastly, the high school’s athletic and physical education department will also receive a new space with a weights and athletics facility.
“As superintendent, it brings great joy to know this will be a place where our children will have the tools to realize their dreams and potential,” said DUSD superintendent Ana Samaniego. “This groundbreaking event is symbolic of our state government’s commitment to educational excellence for every child and marks the beginning of a new era in how we educate our high school students in Douglas.”
Construction on the Douglas High School expansion project will begin in September and is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2022. Sketch Architecture is the design partner and Estimating Plus is the project manager for DUSD.
