Canyons board narrows options for Innovation Center design, sets timeline for contractor bids and naming process

The Canyons Board of Education discussed competing design options, cost risks and an early timeline Thursday for the district's Innovation Center at the former eBay campus, with staff urging the board to finalize pre-design direction soon to keep an August 2027 opening on track.

Business administrator Leon Wilcox told the board, “I want to really meet that August 2027 opening date,” and outlined a compressed design and bid schedule: finalize pre-design in one to two months, complete schematic design over the summer, get construction documents and bid packages in the fall, mobilize contractors in February and aim to have spaces ready for equipment install by June 1, 2027.

The board and staff spent the bulk of the meeting evaluating whether a large, two-story “Boomerang” multipurpose/conference space should be retained in the main building or whether that function should be moved into the cafeteria to free square footage for student engagement areas. Supporters of keeping the Boomerang multipurpose room cited its size, natural light and the ability to host garage-door access for large prototypes and vehicles; opponents worried conversion costs and how often a very large conference space would be used for student-facing activities.

Architectural constraints and cost drivers were central to the discussion. Reed and MHTN architects (consultants on the project) warned that moving major mechanical cores or removing a second floor would trigger significant structural, electrical and plumbing rework. Wilcox and staff repeatedly flagged that disrupting the central “core” — the building area containing power and plumbing — would be “a very pricey situation,” and said they expect the contractor (to be selected under a CMGC procurement on the consent agenda) to return cost estimates quickly once on board.

Board members pressed for student-centered priorities: several trustees said they favored preserving “bumpability” and spaces where students and industry partners would naturally interact — the “convergence” or showcase areas — rather than allocating too much square footage to a large adult conference center. Amanda (board member) said she was “highly uncomfortable with the idea of moving it to the cafeteria,” arguing the smaller cafeteria layout would not support science fairs, large prototypes or robust showcases. Other board members countered that a single-level multipurpose room adjacent to an inquiry lounge and kitchen could function flexibly for both student showcases and catered events.

Staff described several layout compromise options: keep the Boomerang multipurpose room and place CSD TV/multimedia near the entry showcase, or move conference functions to the cafeteria while maintaining garage-door access and makerspace capability in the Boomerang. The district is also studying an outbuilding option with phased parking and possible garage-door loading for heavy construction projects.

On construction timing and contracting, Wilcox said the district expects to select a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) as part of the consent agenda and to quickly use that relationship to refine costs and schedule. He also emphasized that the current FY planning assumes substantial contractor input: “Once we get the contractor on board and start attending, we probably need to ramp up some meetings… we really need to keep on task and on schedule.”

The board also reviewed next steps for design approvals and community input. K-12 students and industry partners have already contributed naming and branding ideas; communications staff said a stakeholder naming advisory process is underway and will return recommendations to the board. Board members agreed to narrow name candidates and revisit a formal naming vote in a subsequent meeting when more board members (and the CMGC cost estimates) can be present.

Looking forward, staff said the elements the board must resolve in the near term are: whether to preserve the two‑story multipurpose/conference footprint, how to locate the CSD TV/multimedia and inquiry lounge to maximize student engagement, and what scope the CMGC should price first. Wilcox recommended the board settle pre‑design direction within the next month to two months so schematic design can begin and subcontractor bidding can be conducted in time for the projected February 2027 mobilization.

Board members asked staff to return with cost scenarios that show both “ceiling removed” and “ceiling retained” options, and to present revised walk-through renderings and bid packages before final decisions.

The district will continue public outreach and stakeholder work — including scheduled meetings with student representatives, industry partners and architects — and the board plans further discussion of naming and branding in follow-up meetings.