Newly completed Buffalo Creek Middle School.

(BRADENTON, FL - September 5, 2007) The scope and volume of construction completed for the 2007-2008 school year is the largest in the history of the Manatee School District, according to Sheridan J. Dowling, Director of the district's Department of Construction Services.

Four newly constructed schools opened their doors to students for the first time when the new school year began on Monday, August 20. In addition, two other schools were completely rebuilt and four schools were substantially renovated. The new construction covers over 400,000 square feet and adds more than 5,400 new student stations needed for growth as well as to comply with Florida's Class-Size Amendment. In total, the project cost for the construction work completed for this school year exceeds $163 million. Most of the funds to pay for the projects were provided by the half-cent sales tax increase for school construction and renovation passed in May 2002.

“We're very proud of the work we've accomplished and grateful to have worked with such skilled architects and construction managers as well as the highly professional staffs and administrators at each of the schools,” Dowling said. “This year was a great challenge. The results are very gratifying to everyone in our department.”

NEW SCHOOLS
Annie Lucy Williams Elementary
Located north of the Manatee River at 3404 Fort Hamer Road in Parrish, Williams is a two-story school with brick and block construction built to accommodate 823 new student stations. The Architect/Engineer was Harvard Jolly Inc. and the Construction Manager was W.G. Mills.

B.D. Gullett Elementary
Located in the Lakewood Ranch area of East Manatee County at 12125 44th Ave. E., Gullett was built with the identical floor plan of Williams Elementary. Both schools have a single-story wing that includes a multipurpose room, kitchen, art and music rooms and a media center that are easily isolated from the rest of the two-story school. This allows outside groups, such as churches or community organizations, to easily use the school facilities while keeping the rest of the school locked and secure. The Architect/Engineer was Harvard Jolly, Inc., and the Construction Manager was Centex Construction, LLC, now known as Balfour Beatty, LLC.

Buffalo Creek Middle
Located in northern Manatee County at 7320 69th St. E., in Palmetto, Buffalo Creek is designed to accommodate 1,154 student stations as it becomes the district's 10th traditional middle school. Buffalo Creek is specifically designed so that students in the different grade levels are grouped together to ease the transition from elementary to middle school and to create the environment most conducive to learning. The Architect/Engineer was Schenkel Schultz Architecture and the Construction Manager was W.G. Mills, Inc.

Horizons Academy
Located in East Bradenton at 1910 27th St. E., Horizons Academy is built to accommodate approximately 425 new student stations. Horizons Academy offers a beautiful new state of the art facility for students who need additional assistance outside of the traditional classroom setting. The Architect/Engineer was Holmes Hepner and Associates Architects and the Construction Manager was Creative Contractors, Inc.

REPLACEMENT SCHOOLS
Daughtrey Elementary
Located in southern Manatee County at 515 63rd Ave. E., the new Daughtrey is specifically designed with multi-functional learning centers to better suit the school's magnet theme of Arts and Sciences. Originally scheduled to open in December of 2007, students and staff are expected to transition into the new building in September or October of 2007. The Architect/Engineer was Ranon & Partners, Inc. and the Construction Manager was Centex Construction, LLC, now known as Balfour Beatty, LLC. Demolition and site work at Daughtrey will be completed by the end of 2007.

Miller Elementary
Located in West Bradenton at 601 43rd St. W., the new Miller replaces a school that was originally constructed in 1950. The new two-story building is built to accommodate 823 student stations and the new design provides for a more compact school with a smaller building footprint. Originally scheduled to open in December 2007, Miller was ready for occupancy on the first day of school, August 20. The Architect/Engineer was Holmes Hepner and Associates Architects and the Construction Manager was W.G. Mills, Inc. Demolition and site work at Miller will be completed by the end of 2007.

RENOVATED SCHOOLS
Manatee Elementary
Located in East Bradenton at 1609 6th Ave. E., renovations and additions to Manatee include a new two-story classroom and cafeteria wing which provides an additional 200 student stations, a new kitchen and cafeteria. The project also provides upgrades to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, exterior lighting and security systems. The Architect/Engineer was Reynolds, Smith & Hills, Inc. and the Construction Manager was Creative Contractors, Inc.

Palma Sola Elementary
Located in west Manatee County at 6806 5th Ave. N., renovations and additions to Palma Sola include construction of 10 new classrooms to accommodate 200 new students stations. Renovated areas include the administration office, media center, kitchen/cafeteria and rest room areas. The Architect/Engineer was Long and Associates, Inc. and the Construction Manager was NDC Construction Company.

Sea Breeze Elementary
Located in west Manatee County at 3601 71st St. W., renovations to Sea Breeze include upgrades to the office, media center, teacher planning areas, school storage areas, heating ventilation/air conditioning, electrical, lighting and security systems. The Architect/Engineer was Holmes Hepner and Associates Architects and the Construction Manager was A.D. Morgan Corporation. An eight-classroom addition will start construction this school year.

Blackburn Elementary
Located north of the Manatee River at 3904 17th St. E. in Palmetto, renovations and additions to Blackburn include construction of 10 new classrooms to accommodate 200 new student stations and upgrades to other classroom buildings and administrative areas. The Architect/Engineer was Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc. and the Construction Manager was HC Beck, LTD.

Miller Elementary School's new Media Center.