Tempe board approves $12.4 million GMP 1 as designers outline Curry, Connolly rebuild plans

The Tempe Elementary School District governing board on Wednesday approved Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) 1 — $12.4 million — to fund demolition, early site work, utilities and procurement of a building elevator for the Curry Elementary and Connolly Middle School rebuilds.

Design partners from DLR Group and CORE Construction presented the plan and schedule to the board, saying the work will occur in phases to keep existing campuses operational while new buildings are constructed on the playfields. CORE said GMP 1 covers the demolition and earthwork and that a second GMP covering building construction is being drafted and will return to the board for approval next month.

Architect Katrina Leach (DLR) walked the board through interior and exterior design goals for both campuses: secure main lobbies with access control and bullet‑resistant glazing, decentralized administrative pods adjacent to classroom cohorts, operable partitions to support flexible learning, and learning commons designed as multiuse library/collaboration spaces. For Connolly Middle School, the design includes larger lab/elective connections and a gym with a second‑floor running track. Leach said glazing was selected to increase daylight and sight lines, which the project team described as a safety measure under Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.

Board members asked detailed questions about acoustics, exposed ceilings and the use of acoustic panels, line of sight from tiered seating and supervision, pigeon‑proofing strategies for canopies, restroom and nurse suite capacity, elevator access and ADA considerations, and cafeteria circulation. The architects said the lowest acoustic panels are roughly 10–11 feet above finished floor, Connolly’s nurses suite provides four cot locations, and elevator access will be located centrally and require authorized use for security reasons.

CORE’s Jeff Smith told the board GMP 1 includes early procurement items and that current cost trends suggested the project might come in under budget; the team said regulatory and building reviews with the City of Tempe remain in process and that foundations and civil work were expected to begin imminently.

After the presentation and Q&A, a board member moved to approve GMP 1 for construction services at Curry Elementary and Connolly Middle School; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote ('Aye'). The project team said students are expected to occupy their new buildings in fall 2027, with completion of fields and some site work to follow.