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FREE STATE HIGH (Summer 2019 PDF Update)
Thanks to community support, a $50 million construction project begins during the summer of 2019 at Lawrence High. Note the light orange phase one construction areas on the south end and southeast corner of the building, the Annex, and in the center of the diagram. The following areas will remain open to students and staff this summer: the main and auxiliary gyms, weight room, main office, student services office, performing arts area, commons, rotunda, and library media center. Outdoor athletic fields may only be accessed with coaching staff supervision. We invite the public to use the Billy Mills and Southwest Middle School athletic fields over the summer.
The Liberty Memorial Central Middle School campus will be closed during the summer of 2019 due to construction. Office staff will relocate to New York Elementary, 936 New York St. Renovations will take place on every floor of the building, including updates to classrooms and common areas, library media center improvements, flooring and paint, and technology upgrades. These images depict media center renovations. We look forward to showing off all of the new features of this historic building in the fall of 2019.
On June 25, 2018, the Lawrence Board of Education will meet for a work session to review the progress of the design development phase of the Lawrence High School bond project. Gould Evans architects will share information about the $51 million project's goals, school community engagement, concept and site development, a furniture pilot project, sustainability and wellness, and schedule and budget.
At its September 25, 2017 meeting, the Lawrence Board of Education approved the owner construction management at-risk services agreement for the 2017 Bond Project with McCownGordon Construction for the Lawrence High, Free State High, and middle school projects.
Gould Evans Architects began working with Henderson Engineers and McCownGordon Construction on the design for these projects in August of this school year. A building-level design and construction committee was engaged in regular meetings to better inform design decisions to meet the goals identified in the 2017 bond master plan. Those goals include:
Approximately 340 contractors were invited to bid the projects, and 99 responded to the bid opening. Ninety-four percent of the subcontracted value is from within 60 miles of Lawrence, 82% are from within the state of Kansas, and more than 20% are Lawrence trade partners.
All project goals were met within the allocated bond budgets for these projects. Some additional scope items were also captured from reallocated funds from the premium on the first bond sale, including flooring replacement and new paint finishes in existing classrooms, upgrades to LED site lighting, and the addition of an outdoor classroom area, new greenhouse, and a wind turbine to help promote district wellness initiatives.
Current Contract Amount (Pre-Construction - Roof) $358,445
Construction Bids $13,634,350
Total GMP $13,992,795
"We're in a good place. We're on the same schedule that we anticipated when we started this process in August," said Hayden of the timeline.
May 2, 2017, Lawrence School Bond Mail-Ballot Election
Shall Unified School District No. 497, Douglas County, Kansas, (Lawrence), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $87,000,000 to pay the costs to: construct additions to and renovate, improve, repair, equip and furnish Lawrence High School, the other existing secondary schools including Lawrence Free State High School, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, South Middle School, Southwest Middle School, West Middle School, and the College and Career Center; to make technology improvements throughout the district; to undertake all other necessary improvements related thereto; and to pay fees and expenses related thereto; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A 25-431 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72-6761 and K.S.A. 75-2315 et seq.?
Lawrence High Bond Construction Updates
- January 2021 Construction Progress
- February 2020 Construction Overview
- February 2020 Phase 3 Construction Begins
- January 2020 Phase 2 Construction Update
- December 2019 Phase 2 Construction Update
- November 2019 Construction Update
Summer 2019 Bond Construction Update
FREE STATE HIGH (Summer 2019 PDF Update)Work to complete Free State High's renovations will continue during the summer of 2019. Please follow all signage and note the following for your safety. Park only on the west side of the school. Enter either through the west entrance to the performing arts hallway for summer school or the west entrance of the athletics hallway for athletics. Access the weight room from the west stairs only. Please stay clear of all construction areas shown in orange. We look forward to the new classrooms and media center, renovated restrooms, and resurfaced parking lots in the fall of 2019.
The second image shows Free State High's new media center taking shape! The existing library media center will be converted to classrooms this summer.
LAWRENCE HIGH (Summer 2019 PDF Update)
Thanks to community support, a $50 million construction project begins during the summer of 2019 at Lawrence High. Note the light orange phase one construction areas on the south end and southeast corner of the building, the Annex, and in the center of the diagram. The following areas will remain open to students and staff this summer: the main and auxiliary gyms, weight room, main office, student services office, performing arts area, commons, rotunda, and library media center. Outdoor athletic fields may only be accessed with coaching staff supervision. We invite the public to use the Billy Mills and Southwest Middle School athletic fields over the summer.LIBERTY MEMORIAL CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL (Summer 2019 PDF Update)
The Liberty Memorial Central Middle School campus will be closed during the summer of 2019 due to construction. Office staff will relocate to New York Elementary, 936 New York St. Renovations will take place on every floor of the building, including updates to classrooms and common areas, library media center improvements, flooring and paint, and technology upgrades. These images depict media center renovations. We look forward to showing off all of the new features of this historic building in the fall of 2019.Update: 2017 Bond Issue Projects (Note: Due to multiple images, this file loads slowly.)
School Board Member Shannon Kimball presented this update about the 2017 school bond issue projects to the Lawrence Rotary Club in October of 2018. The $87 million bond issue includes $50 million for improvements to Lawrence High School and funds renovations at Free State High and all four middle schools. The 2017 bond issue for secondary school improvements followed a $92.5 million bond issue in 2013 that touched all of the district's elementary schools and supported the construction of the Lawrence College and Career Center.
December 20, 2018, Free State High School Update
Watch this animated video showing some of the phasing that will occur with the Free State High School bond project beginning in January.
Read this Construction Update and review architectural renderings related to the Free State High bond improvements.
December 10, 2018, Update
The school board will consider approval of construction bids for Liberty Memorial Central and West Middle Schools at its December 10, 2018, meeting. Click here to see a description of the work and visuals of the new spaces. Construction will occur this spring/summer at both schools, with completion by the start of the next school year.
Lawrence High School will be bid the week of December 10, with board approval scheduled for January 14. The two-year construction project at LHS will begin this summer.
Free State High is at the mid-way point of construction. The east classroom addition and new cardio and training room will be finished by winter break. Interior renovation for the new library media center and commons area learning stairs will occur during the second semester of this school year, with other interior upgrades to classrooms and athletic areas slated for the summer. Construction will be complete at Free State by the start of the 2019-2020 school year.
June 25, 2018, Bond Update - Lawrence High School (View Report PDF)
On June 25, 2018, the Lawrence Board of Education will meet for a work session to review the progress of the design development phase of the Lawrence High School bond project. Gould Evans architects will share information about the $51 million project's goals, school community engagement, concept and site development, a furniture pilot project, sustainability and wellness, and schedule and budget.The goals of the Secondary Schools Facility Master Plan include creating 21st-century environments to support student-centered learning, accommodating a growing student population, providing a safe and secure campus, accommodating student privacy, creating equity across district facilities, and upgrading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to support high-performance schools.
The current designs for Lawrence High include an innovation district connecting core classrooms to hands-on learning opportunities in career and technical education courses. A wellness/athletic district consolidates programs related to health, wellness, nutrition, fitness, and athletics. An open dining commons and media center at the heart of the school (pictured here) extends the flexibility and function of those areas. Expanded courtyards provide outdoor learning opportunities and daylight to all core classrooms. A new wayfinding pattern unifies the various buildings that compose LHS and strategic additions create a single campus with controlled access during school hours for improved safety and security. The plan enlarges undersized core classrooms and corridors to bring the school's capacity to 2,000 students.
The project timeline shows construction beginning in early 2019 and continuing through August of 2021.
June 11, 2018, Bond Update - Liberty Memorial Central and West Middle Schools (View Report PDF)
On June 11, 2018, the Lawrence Board of Education hosted a work session to hear an update from Clark Huesemann architects about the program and design development phase of the Liberty Memorial Central and West Middle School projects. Both are slated for bidding in November and construction next spring. The architects have met with school-based Design and Construction Committees and district-level committees to discuss programmatic and special education needs and interests of the LGBTQ community. They have surveyed staff and met with school site councils. As a result, project goals are to create shared, flexible, active, visible, transparent, and diverse spaces that enable student choice and anytime, anywhere learning.
Liberty Memorial Central Middle School's $4.3 million project includes modernization of the library media center, auditorium improvements, restroom and locker room renovations, the addition of learning pockets (breakout spaces) to hallways, roofing repairs, LED lighting upgrades, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements.
West Middle School's $9.8 million project includes modernization of the library media center, STEM lab improvements, restroom and locker room renovations, the addition of learning pockets (breakout spaces) to hallways, roofing repairs, LED lighting upgrades, fire sprinkler upgrades, and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.
May 14, 2018, Bond Project Update - Free State High School (View Report PDF)
At its September 25, 2017 meeting, the Lawrence Board of Education approved the owner construction management at-risk services agreement for the 2017 Bond Project with McCownGordon Construction for the Lawrence High, Free State High, and middle school projects.(Image of Free State High east classroom addition shown at left.)
Gould Evans Architects began working with Henderson Engineers and McCownGordon Construction on the design for these projects in August of this school year. A building-level design and construction committee was engaged in regular meetings to better inform design decisions to meet the goals identified in the 2017 bond master plan. Those goals include:
- Provide flexible spaces to enhance students’ educational experiences and opportunities to collaborate, create, and innovate.
- Modernize library media centers.
- Upgrade infrastructure and building systems to deliver more energy efficient, high-performance schools that promote student/staff wellness and success.
- Renovate restrooms and locker rooms to provide increased privacy to students.
Approximately 340 contractors were invited to bid the projects, and 99 responded to the bid opening. Ninety-four percent of the subcontracted value is from within 60 miles of Lawrence, 82% are from within the state of Kansas, and more than 20% are Lawrence trade partners.(Image of Free State High media stair shown at left.)
All project goals were met within the allocated bond budgets for these projects. Some additional scope items were also captured from reallocated funds from the premium on the first bond sale, including flooring replacement and new paint finishes in existing classrooms, upgrades to LED site lighting, and the addition of an outdoor classroom area, new greenhouse, and a wind turbine to help promote district wellness initiatives.
Construction is scheduled to begin in late summer with project completion by the start of the 2019-20 school year.
McCownGordon Construction has submitted a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction services for Free State High School as follows:
McCownGordon Construction has submitted a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction services for Free State High School as follows:
Current Contract Amount (Pre-Construction - Roof) $358,445
Construction Bids $13,634,350
Total GMP $13,992,795
April 9, 2018, Bond Project Update - Billy Mills and Southwest Middle Schools (View Report PDF)
At its September 25, 2017, meeting, the Lawrence Board of Education approved the owner-construction management at-risk services agreement for the 2017 Bond Project with McCownGordon Construction for the Lawrence High, Free State High, and middle school projects. The initial pre-construction services agreement in the amount of $1,234,938 received prior approval by the board of education.
(Image of Southwest Middle School Library/Media Center shown at left.)
Clark/Huesemann Architects began working with Henderson Engineers and McCownGordon Construction on the design for these projects in August of this school year. A building-level design and construction committee was engaged in regular meetings to better inform design decisions to meet the goals identified in the 2017 bond master plan. Those goals included:
- Provide flexible spaces to enhance students’ educational experiences and opportunities to collaborate, create, and innovate.
- Modernize library media centers.
- Upgrade infrastructure and aging building systems to deliver more energy efficient, high-performance schools that promote student/staff wellness and success.
- Renovate restrooms and locker rooms to provide increased privacy to students.
Approximately 350 contractors were invited to bid the projects, and 53 responded when bids were opened on March 6th. Ninety-six percent of the subcontracted value is from within 60 miles of Lawrence and more than 50% are Lawrence trade partners.
(Image of Billy Mills Middle School Library/Media Center shown at left.)
All project goals were met within the allocated bond budgets for these projects. Some additional scope items were also captured from the Capital Improvement Plan, including renovations to the Southwest gymnasium and upgrades to the STEM labs in both middle schools. Construction is scheduled to occur this summer with project completion by the start of the 2018-19 school year.
McCownGordon Construction has submitted a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction services for South and Southwest Middle Schools as follows:
Current Contract Amount
$1,234,938
Billy Mills & Southwest Middle Schools Package #1
$4,662,059
Total GMP
$5,896,997
The Board approved the GMP for Bily Mills and Southwest Middle Schools Package #1.
December 11, 2017, Bond Construction Update Work Session
The Lawrence Board of Education met for a work session at 6 p.m. on December 11, 2017, to review schematic designs for additions and renovations at Free State High School. The improvements are the result of the successful $87 million bond election approved by voters last May. Chief Operations Officer Kyle Hayden reviewed the bond project timeline, sharing that design development for the Free State High project should be completed by April, making way for the bid and pre‐construction process to begin.
"We're in a good place. We're on the same schedule that we anticipated when we started this process in August," said Hayden of the timeline.
Gould Evans, the architects on the Free State High project, surveyed staff and students and engaged a school-based Design and Construction Committee of staff and parents to generate ideas for meeting the project's goals, including creating 21st-century learning environments, accommodating a growing student population (2,000-student capacity), providing a safe and secure campus, accommodating student privacy, creating equity across the district and implementing strategic high-performance building systems upgrades.
In order to re-center an academic space as the heart of the school, Free State's design includes connecting the dining commons to a reimagined media center. Other improvements include adding a centrally located learning commons or multiuse space, creating secondary and tertiary learning spaces outside of classrooms, moving special education classrooms to the current media center location, addressing student privacy issues by remodeling restrooms and locker rooms, and adding eight classrooms to the east end of the building.
November 27, 2017, Board Approves Architectural Services Contracts
The Lawrence Board of Education approved agreements for architectural services with Clark Huesemann, TreanorHL, Gould Evans Associates and BG Consultants for 2017 bond construction projects.
August 14, 2017, Selection of Architectural Design Firms
The Lawrence Board of Education gave the green light to proceed with contract negotiations for architectural design and construction administration of the $87 million in secondary school facility improvements approved by voters on May 2, 2017. Following the school district’s request for qualifications, eight responses were received. Four firms were interviewed and evaluated on various criteria, including:
- background and relevant experience.
- fee structure.
- management approach to communicating and collaborating with stakeholders.
- information on sub-consultant engineering firms.
- references.
- understanding and approach to designing toward 21st-century teaching and learning.
- understanding the critical issues and challenges in these projects and having an approach to solving them.
The district will negotiate contracts with three local firms. Gould Evans will oversee the planning and design of Lawrence High and Free State High Schools. Clark|Huesemann will lead projects at all four middle schools, and Treanorhl will design improvements to the Lawrence College and Career Center. Henderson Engineers will partner on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades on both high school projects. It is anticipated that contracts will be ready for board approval in September.
About our architectural, design and engineering partners:
Gould Evans, a local firm with a national presence, is led by John Wilkins, a long-time Lawrence resident. Gould Evans has worked with Lawrence Public Schools for more than 20 years, including leading the development of the secondary facility master plan and designing renovations at Cordley, Hillcrest, New York, Sunset Hill, Pinckney and Woodlawn Elementary Schools, as part of the 2013 school bond issue. Gould Evans brings an innovative, research-based approach to planning and designing schools. They know how to successfully engage the school community and lead us toward solutions that truly support 21st-century learning.
Clark/Huesemann's Steve Clark and Jane Huesemann have worked together more than 20 years in Lawrence and have a proven track record of successful projects in our community and beyond. More than 90% of their work has been renovation projects. They have demonstrated an ability to successfully transform outdated spaces into state of the art educational environments and have worked on projects in all four of our middle schools.
Henderson Engineers' team is led by Doug Everhart, a resident of Lawrence and the lead designer on multiple school projects completed as part of the 2013 bond issue. He also assisted the district in its secondary school facility master planning process. Having consistency in this area will serve the district well.
Treanorhl, a Lawrence firm for more than 30 years, has also been closely connected to the district. They have worked on more than 50 K-12 school projects and have extensive experience designing career-centered learning environments, including spaces for culinary arts, manufacturing, engineering, video production and graphic design, all of which are facets of the improvements slated for the Lawrence College and Career Center. Architects of the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence teen center, Treanorhl is led by Chris Cunningham of Lawrence. The Don and Beverly Gardner Center for Great Futures will be an addition to the Lawrence College and Career Center.
August 9, 2017, RFQ
Request for Qualifications for Building Commissioning Services
Request for Qualifications for Building Commissioning Services
July 3, 2017, Update
The Lawrence Board of Education voted on July 3, 2017, to proceed with contract negotiations for Construction Manager at Risk services from McCownGordon Construction and MarLan Construction for its 2017 school bond projects. The board selected McCownGordon to oversee an estimated $68 million in construction at Lawrence High, Free State High, and all four middle schools, and MarLan Construction to lead approximately $600,000 in construction at the Lawrence College and Career Center. Chief Operations Officer Kyle Hayden praised McCownGordon for successful oversight of nine of the district's 2013 school bond construction projects and noted that MarLan is working with the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence on its new Teen Center, which will be connected to the College and Career Center.
The Lawrence Board of Education voted on July 3, 2017, to proceed with contract negotiations for Construction Manager at Risk services from McCownGordon Construction and MarLan Construction for its 2017 school bond projects. The board selected McCownGordon to oversee an estimated $68 million in construction at Lawrence High, Free State High, and all four middle schools, and MarLan Construction to lead approximately $600,000 in construction at the Lawrence College and Career Center. Chief Operations Officer Kyle Hayden praised McCownGordon for successful oversight of nine of the district's 2013 school bond construction projects and noted that MarLan is working with the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence on its new Teen Center, which will be connected to the College and Career Center.
Following the successful completion of the 2013 school bond projects - on time and within budget, the district will continue using Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) services for its secondary school improvements. CMAR is a delivery method that entails a commitment by the Construction Manager (CM) to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price. The CM oversees the planning, design, and construction of the projects from beginning to end to control the timeline, cost, and quality. The CM sends all of the subcontracting work out for competitive bids, and then vets the bids to ensure that the district gets the best work for the lowest cost, maximizing the value of taxpayers' investment.
The district's Request for CMAR Qualifications led to responses from ten construction companies, five of which were selected to present proposals to the Facilities Planning Committee. The team evaluated the proposals on a dozen criteria, including experience/references, cost and site management, fee structure, construction plan, and local business utilization. Hayden noted that of the subcontractors hired by McCownGordon for the district's recent school construction projects, 70% were considered local or located within 30 miles of Lawrence.
The district expects to begin construction on the secondary school projects next summer, following the design development process. These upcoming school improvements are the result of voter approval of an $87 million school bond election on May 2.
May 2, 2017, Update
The Lawrence community approved the May 2, 2017, $87 million school bond election by a margin of 74.5% on a vote of 14,300 to 4,898. Voter turnout was 35%. This page includes background information about the bond issue goals, scope, and budget. Superintendent Kyle Hayden thanked the community for its support and for putting students first.
Background Information - Supporting Student-Centered Learning
May 2, 2017, Lawrence School Bond Mail-Ballot Election
The Goal: Create school environments that support personalized learning, student engagement, and success.
Facilities Master Plan
With elementary schools transformed into 21st-century learning environments thanks to the community’s support of its 2013 school bond election, the Lawrence Board of Education turned its attention to a facilities master planning process to address the needs of the middle and high schools, especially Lawrence High School. The board contracted Gould Evans Associates, which met with a Facilities Planning Committee, Lawrence High Steering Committee, and middle and high school administrators and staff, conducted focus groups and student surveys, visited districts with new high school facilities of similar size, and worked with engineering and construction firms on a comprehensive analysis of programmatic and building system needs.
With elementary schools transformed into 21st-century learning environments thanks to the community’s support of its 2013 school bond election, the Lawrence Board of Education turned its attention to a facilities master planning process to address the needs of the middle and high schools, especially Lawrence High School. The board contracted Gould Evans Associates, which met with a Facilities Planning Committee, Lawrence High Steering Committee, and middle and high school administrators and staff, conducted focus groups and student surveys, visited districts with new high school facilities of similar size, and worked with engineering and construction firms on a comprehensive analysis of programmatic and building system needs.
Public Survey
The district contracted with Patron Insight to conduct a scientific telephone survey to gauge public support of the projects identified in the facilities master plan. Here is a report detailing the results of the survey of 400 heads of households who are registered voters in USD 497: Patron Insight Community Telephone Survey.
Board Approves Bond Resolution
On January 9, the school board voted unanimously to authorize and call for an $87 million, mail-ballot election on May 2.
The board approved asking USD 497 voters to decide this ballot question:
Shall Unified School District No. 497, Douglas County, Kansas, (Lawrence), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $87,000,000 to pay the costs to: construct additions to and renovate, improve, repair, equip and furnish Lawrence High School, the other existing secondary schools including Lawrence Free State High School, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, South Middle School, Southwest Middle School, West Middle School, and the College and Career Center; to make technology improvements throughout the district; to undertake all other necessary improvements related thereto; and to pay fees and expenses related thereto; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A 25-431 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72-6761 and K.S.A. 75-2315 et seq.?
Video Presentation: USD 497's May 2, 2017, School Bond Mail-Ballot Election (16 minutes)
The May 2, 2017, Lawrence School Bond Mail-Ballot Election:
- Creates flexible spaces to enhance students’ educational experiences through opportunities to collaborate, create and innovate.
- Addresses equity across school facilities.
- Improves safety and security.
- Accommodates student enrollment growth.
- Delivers energy-efficient, high-performance schools that promote student and staff wellness and success and generate cost savings. (Utility savings estimated at $100,000/year.)
Lawrence High School (PDF)
Video: It's Lawrence High's Time!
- Provide a safe and secure campus
- Create flexible student collaboration spaces
- Enlarge classrooms, corridors and kitchen
- Establish outdoor learning areas
- Modernize library media center
- Renovate annex classrooms, auxiliary gym, natatorium, weight room, fine arts spaces, career and technical education areas, restrooms and locker rooms
- Upgrade infrastructure and aging building systems
- Make site improvements
Free State High School (PDF)
- Add classrooms and multi-purpose space to accommodate growth
- Create flexible student collaboration spaces
- Modernize library media center
- Expand and improve parking and sidewalks
- Upgrade infrastructure and aging building systems
- Renovate restrooms and locker rooms
