Excel Academy Charter School

Submitted by Saunders Construction & SlaterPaull Architects

The design-build team of Saunders Construction and SlaterPaull Architects used creative design and innovative construction technology to give students and faculty a facility that exceeded their expectations.

Constructed in only seven months, Excel Academy Charter School provides a 44,095-sq-ft building that can serve 440 students. Design of the school includes 20 classrooms - two classrooms per grades K-8, a dedicated middle school science room and extra classroom, a library with attached computer lab, an art room, special education, a cafeteria with kitchen and a gymnasium with a stage that also serves as a music classroom.

The design-build team pushed the envelope to create an efficient and one-of-a-kind design for the new school. The design interprets the individualistic learning style in a form that reflects creativity.

Construction of the school required special considerations in the design solution. Posed with the challenge of meeting a tight budget and demanding schedule, the team turned to concrete tilt-up construction. The team used innovative construction techniques to form cutting-edge geometric panel shapes and forms, making no two panels alike.

The moldable aspects of ready-mix concrete in the tilt-up panels allow the joints to be placed at skewed angles. This method allowed for the design of irregular wall patterns. Taking tilt-up construction to the next level, interior tilt walls were used as load-bearing members, which reduced the structural steel required and thus saved the school money.

Tilt-up construction offers a more rapid rate of construction. Because the panels act as the frame, once they are erected and steel-joist roof framing is in place, the building can be enclosed in record time.

The pioneering efforts of the entire design-build team led to an exceptional facility built in record time and well below industry cost standards.

Project Team

Owner: Excel Academy Building Corp.
Architect: SlaterPaull Architects
Engineers: Jehn Engineering
General Contractor: Saunders Construction Inc.
Major Subs: Rocky Mtn. Structures Inc., Carrasco-Kube Cement Contractors, CEI West Roofing, Design Mechanical and M & D Construction Inc.

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