Northwest Early College design development: architects say growth in program and budget will be trimmed to meet $30.3M cap

Architects for the Northwest Early College High School told trustees that programming and community input have grown the campus design from an initial planning estimate of about 47,000 square feet to roughly 63,500 square feet, and that the project budget has increased from an original $28.8 million to about $30.3 million.

Miguel Hernandez, identified as the senior project manager on the MFA Architects team, said the expanded program reflects community requests for amenities that were not in the original budgeted scope, including a gymnasium, CTE (career and technical education) space and outdoor collaboration areas. "We met with the community to gain as much input as we could from the community on it," Hernandez said. To bring the project back within the board‑approved budget, the team said it has undertaken value‑engineering and reduced the campus from five buildings to three.

Hernandez said the design‑development package, submitted March 25, shows changes that lower long‑term site costs: consolidating buildings to reduce stormwater pumping and decreasing security fencing by locating buildings to help form a secured perimeter. Jordan Foster Construction is serving as the construction manager at‑risk, Hernandez said, and the design team has been working with that contractor to refine cost assumptions.

Board members asked why the square footage and budget diverged from original contracting assumptions. Hernandez and other design staff said the 47,000‑square‑foot figure used in the initial budgeting was a program estimate tied to portable‑based enrollment capacity; community programming later expanded the brief. "This is normal" in the design‑development phase, Hernandez said, adding that the team expects to pare elements through constructability review and bring a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) that conforms to the board’s budget.

Design details presented to trustees include a central administration spine, outdoor learning courtyards, neighborhoods organized by grade level and a two‑part library. The team showed renderings that emphasize daylighting, durable base materials at exterior walls and covered outdoor classrooms; they also described a plan to use a VRF (variable‑refrigerant‑flow) mechanical system, which the architect said is more energy efficient than traditional rooftop units and is already planned for other new district buildings.

On schedule, the team said it had completed design development and would advance to construction documents. The architects told trustees they expect the GMP to be presented later in the process and expressed confidence that constructive dialogue with the contractor and further value engineering will bring the final construction cost within the $30.3 million budget.

Trustees and community members raised concerns about the program size and cost. The administration and architects said they will continue to refine scope and provide updates; no GMP or construction contract was presented or approved at this meeting.