project: ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING & “BUILD SMART” FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
date: 1997 – ONGOING
location: ATLANTA, GA
client: ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
contact: VALERIE THOMAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FACILITIES SERVICES

Urban Collage performed program and project management for the construction of a new Atlanta Public Schools headquarters, the Center for Leadership and Learning (CLL). The eight-story facility encompasses 232,000 square feet (including 3,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space), includes a 475 space parking deck, and accommodates more than 650 staffers from 12 different departments. Designed with an open floor plate around a central service core, the building provides maximum flexibility for a system that has widely-varied spacial requirements among its disparate departments.

The facility cost just under $33 million to build, which also occurred on schedule and under budget. Urban Collage coordinated efforts between several different departments within APS and with the developer, Carter and Associates, and the contractor, Russell/Hardin, j.v.

Since 1997, Urban Collage has worked in an ongoing role as facilities planning/programming consultant for all Atlanta Public Schools facilities. More recently, the firm was responsible for the management of a comprehensive system-wide Facility Master Plan (known as “The Build Smart Project”). The Facilities Master Plan is a five-year implementation program intended to comprehensively catalog and assess the current and future facility needs of all of the Pre K-12 instructional programs. The current APS system, two years into Build Smart implementation, consists of 95 school facilities with an enrollment of approximately 58,000 students.  The firm has also overseen the Feasibility Study and design of the new Central Office Building and the development of a comprehensive Athletics Plan and Property Management Plan for all discontinued school sites.

In addition, Urban Collage currently oversees implementation of the Build Smart Facilities Plan serving as design project manager for the creation of all design narratives for new and renovated facilities.

project: DOUGHERTY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM (DCSS) FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
date: 2001
location: ALBANY, GA
client: DCSS
contact: ROBERT LLOYD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONAL SERVICES

In the fall of 2001, Dougherty County School System, operating a total of 27 schools and a variety of administrative, storage and support facilities sought to conduct a comprehensive Facilities Analysis and Master Plan to guide facility development over the next five to ten years.

Urban Collage, Inc. developed the Facilities Master Plan through an interactive process with Dougherty County administrators, Board of Education members, faculty and staff. Based upon the anticipated instructional program and system goals, teams of facility experts assessed each school and support facility to identify program deficiencies and needed building improvements. The 5-year plan included phasing and budgeting schedules.

Since the completion of the Master Plan, Urban Collage has continued to assist Dougherty County School System with programming, planning and design management.  Urban Collage has assisted Dougherty County staff with four high school addition/renovation projects, 2 new elementary schools, and 5 elementary school renovation/addition efforts.  In 2006, Urban Collage facilitated a 5-year update of the Local Facilities Plan and in 2011 continues to support the system with project planning and design management.

Implementation Highlights:

• Passed a second SPLOST referendum, securing $74 million for facility improvements
• Constructed Jackson Heights Elementary School to replace an obsolete facility
• Constructed Live Oak Elementary School in the growing west side of Dougherty County
• Renovated a historic school building near Downtown Albany and an addition to become the new home of Lincoln Magnet Elementary School
• Over a 4-year period Dougherty County Schools implemented attendance area changes for the system’s four high schools
• Constructed an Advanced Math and Engineering, Media Center, and Cafeteria/Kitchen Addition to Monroe High School
• Constructed a Communications and Arts addition and performed a complete classroom renovation to Albany High School
• Constructed a Health and Advanced Sciences addition and performed a significant classroom renovation to Westover High School
• Significant renovation projects were performed at Lake Park and Turner Elementary Schools
• Currently, Dougherty High School is the site of a Fine Arts addition including new music, art, dance, and drama suites.

project: MARIETTA CITY SCHOOLS FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
date: 2002
location: MARIETTA, GA
client: MARIETTA CITY SCHOOLS
contact: DR. EMILY LEMBECK, SUPERINTENDENT

In the fall of 2002, Marietta City Schools enlisted the services of Urban Collage, Inc. to undertake a process to identify additional space needs and develop a plan to construct necessary classrooms to accommodate and serve the system’s elementary school (K-5) students in accordance with the system’s instructional pedagogy and goals. The Facilities Master Plan is intended to guide facility development, renovation, and repair over the next 5 to 10 years as it fosters informed decision making for capital improvements with a comprehensive, system-wide perspective.
The Facilities Master Plan document includes:

The System Profile, a collection of facts and analyses regarding Marietta City School facilities (K-5) which forms the foundation of the Master Plan.

Four Preliminary Concept plans that were devised by the Planning Team to test the facility alternatives and encourage insightful discussion by the Board of Education, the Master Plan Oversight Committee and the community regarding the future of Marietta City Schools facilities. Facility Master Plan recommendations, including preliminary phasing of improvements.

Facility Master Plan recommendations, including preliminary phasing of improvements.