Stamford-based A.P. Construction, a construction management and general contracting firm, identified education construction as a growing sector more than 20 years ago and has since completed more than 50 projects totaling some $500 million in the Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y., markets.
Industry trends include energy efficiency and environments deemed conducive to learning. For money, private schools generally tap the private sector while public schools opt for bonds.
“Private schools raise money through a variety of ways, including construction loans and fundraising, and public schools typically finance through public bonds,” said Nick Everett, executive vice president of A.P. Construction.
A.P. Construction”™s most recent education projects include the addition and renovation of Trumbull High School in Trumbull; the new science classroom wing and parking lot expansion at The Whitby School in Greenwich; the new school structure, additions and interior-exterior renovation at Greens Farms Academy in Westport; and a four-classroom, 17,000-square-foot addition-renovation at Naramake Elementary School for the Norwalk school district, now in progress and twin to a 30,000-square-foot job at the Rowayton Elementary School.
“Whether it”™s building a new school or renovating an existing, the trends have positioned schools to become more energy efficient, make better use of space and be more comfortable and conducive to learning. We are proud to have served so many communities through the construction of school facilities, which benefit the students, surrounding communities and future generations,” said Everett.
The addition and renovation of Trumbull High School was a four-year, multiphased, 330,000-square-foot project performed under occupied conditions. The Whitby School has contracted A.P. Construction three times across the last 111 years, including a new 6,200-square-foot science classroom wing and parking lot expansion.
“A.P. utilized meetings, meeting minutes and formal discussions to solve all potential and existing problems on the job,” said Tom Coleman, director of facilities at Whitby School, in a statement. “They responded to us in a very expedient fashion and identified specific items in need of attention to make the job progress smoothly.”
Greens Farms Academy has hired A.P. Construction for 13 projects since 1999 that totaled over 150,000 square feet.
Much of A.P. Construction”™s work is performed under occupied conditions. “What”™s key to managing projects without interrupting the day-to-day activities of the school is to plan and implement programs that ensure student safety and protection of ongoing school operations, which A.P. Construction takes very seriously while achieving the desired completion date,” Everett said.
