UF's mascot, K-12 school both now green
October 27, 2011
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - Construction is well underway on PK Yonge Elementary School on the Gainesville campus of the University of Florida. BRPH is providing design and construction services for this new K-12 laboratory school which is the first phase of a total campus revitalization that will create a ‘21st century technological powerhouse’.
Currently, the team is in the process of finishing the building envelope and focusing on the completion of all in-wall and overhead rough-ins. Exterior windows and doors, along with the brick and metal panel façade, are being installed as the project nears dry-in and the interior build out and finishes of the building begin.
The entire makeover calls for tearing down all but five newer campus buildings, beginning with the elementary school, which will go from three single-story wings to one, two-story facility. The new 37,000-square-foot replacement wing will house kindergarten through fifth grade classes. The new wing is slated to be first in line in an effort to make the entire school a green campus. The building is being designed to achieve 30 percent greater energy efficiency than traditional school facilities and is a LEED platinum tracking project.
This first-phase is expected to take 14 months and is currently on schedule and under budget.
