Best Secondary Education Project
In constructing the Canadian Valley Technology Center, there was a lot of coordination and collaboration with Coreslab to achieve the desired result.
Building 400 of the Canadian Valley Technology Center is a single-story addition and renovation to a facility constructed by CMS Willowbrook in the early ’80s and repurposed for healthcare technology classrooms, math and keys classrooms, multipurpose FEMA rated storm shelters, common areas, break rooms, and administrative support services.
To set apart the shop classes from the rest of the campus, MA+ Architecture worked with Coreslab to develop samples and mock-ups to achieve the desired finish. The team worked well within the restrictions common to school construction projects. Given the proximity of the new Canadian Valley facility, there were limitations to schedule and operations as well as shutdowns and noise constraints while school was in session. The Canadian Valley Technology Center is on schedule and was expected to be completed by June 2018. In the fall, students will occupy the new building while the old one is razed and turned into playing fields.
Coreslab used two different concrete colors and three different finishes to accommodate the architect’s vision. Precast concrete walls were painted where exposed inside the facility. The Canadian Valley Technology Center building was gutted, but portions were able to be reused. One of the biggest challenges was to design more than 50% of the new space within an existing structure.
Using the original master plan, they had to quickly evaluate various building systems and focus on how to rebuild as soon as possible. The design team considered masonry but was concerned by the shortage of available masons in the Canadian Valley as well as the need to fast-track the schedule.
- Precaster – Coreslab (Okla) Ltd
- Owner – Canadian Valley Technology Center
- Contractor Manager – CWS Willowbrook
- Architect – MA+ Architects
- Engineer of Record – KFC Engineering
