The Challenge:
After years of renowned excellence in the classroom and in performances of kinds, Harrison School of the Arts has become one of the premier schools in the Southeast United States. This success, and further emphasis on the importance of the Arts in K-12 Education, necessitated the expansion of their programs. However, with a very limited site, and antiquated facilities, the school had to be enhanced and updated. The school shares a campus and many facilities with Lakeland High School, so space for new buildings and construction was extremely limited. Also, by setting out to create a world-class school for the arts, typical K-12 Education specifications and used would not be sufficient, and budget constraints would be great. With a truly unique project on their hands, the Polk County School Board turned to Rodda Construction to make their dreams a reality.
The Solution:
Rodda Construction worked with KBJ Architects and dozens of engineers and designers to create beautiful, flexible and functional spaces for instruction, practice, and performance that promote creativity while still meeting the demanding construction requirements of PCSB. Through analysis of construction and engineering methods, we assisted the design team in creating buildings that were efficient to build, and will remain economical to run and maintain for the District in the future. Through detailed estimate and cost analysis, Rodda was able to help the team determine funding priorities in order to create a building that is stunning in design, but was comparable in cost to the typical prototype building PCSB builds. During construction, we worked hand in hand with the principals of both schools to ensure student and staff safety at all times, and to eliminate any classroom disruptions. By phasing construction and occupancy timelines, we were able to deliver all of the spaces necessary for each school to remain fully functional throughout construction.
The Result:
This breathtaking new facility has become the crowning jewel for the arts in Lakeland, Polk County, and the entire Southeast. The beautiful interior and exterior spaces evoke creativity among the students and faculty of the school. By going the extra mile throughout the project’s construction, Rodda ensured that this difficult project would be completed with the highest quality, on-time for students and teachers to arrive on campus.
Client Testimonial:
Rodda performed beyond our wildest expectations in completing the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Arts, During every phase of the project, Jodie and the rest of the Rodda team went the ‘extra mile’ to make sure everything promised was delivered. I personally spent a significant amount of time on the campus during the construction period. I was amazed at the coordination and commitment displayed by everyone involved in the project. We are grateful for the commitment and quality workmanship provided by the Rodda team.
Fred Murphy
Assistant Superintendant for Support Services/ Facilities and Operations
Polk District Schools
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