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Louisa County presents final CTE center design, projects $34.6M–$41M cost range and near-term bid schedule
Summary
Design team presented the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center plan, program list, site layout and a base-bid budget range of roughly $32.6M–$40.8M plus an additive bridge alternate of $2M–$3M; staff asked the board to authorize moving from construction documents into bidding and construction administration.
The Louisa County School Board heard a detailed presentation of the proposed Career and Technical Education Center design and schedule, and was asked to authorize the next contract phase so the district can solicit construction bids.
Architect Guy Clark, representing the project design team, described an L-shaped, one-story building sited adjacent to Louisa County High School with a covered but open bridge connector to the high school’s second floor. The plan includes five shop spaces with mezzanines, classroom and lab space for programs such as nursing, cosmetology, culinary, CAD, CNC, residential construction, electrical/energy, HVAC and plumbing, marine service tech, welding and a teacher training academy with separate parking and entrance.
Clark said the building also includes a flexible multipurpose meeting space with operable walls and a patio, a covered service yard and an open, fenced service yard with privacy slats. The design team showed plans for circulation, a secure roofed bridge over the bus loop, accessibility lifts at the stair locations, student changing rooms tied to shops, and a layout that mirrors materials and forms used at Louisa County High School so the new facility visually integrates with the existing campus.
The design team presented a base bid budget range of roughly $32.6 million to $40.8 million and said an additive alternate for the bridge connector would add $2 million to $3 million, producing a total project range of about $34.6 million to $41 million. Clark described line items including site work ($23.8M–$27.3M), fixtures/furniture/equipment, technology, stormwater mitigation, design fees and specialist testing, and a contingency in the 10% range. He said bids were expected in March–April, contract award in April–May and construction running approximately June 2025 to March 2027, with students moving in August 2027.
Board members asked about staffing, flexibility of classroom layouts and market timing. Clark confirmed classrooms and shops were designed to be flexible — including power and panel locations to accommodate program changes — and acknowledged the budget numbers are an estimating range rather than final bid prices. The superintendent and staff said additional personnel will be required if all programs open immediately, and that staff will work with the board on phasing if needed.
The design team requested board approval to proceed from the construction documents phase into bidding and construction administration under the existing design contract with Louisa County Public Schools so the district can issue bid documents and move toward a construction contract award.
Additional procedural steps noted by the design team included final local approvals and agency reviews before bid issuance; the project team asked the board to confirm authorization to proceed into the next phase.
The presentation concluded with board appreciation for the design team's work and for the many industry and school partners involved in program planning.
