By Natalie Carroll听
School districts are confronting a complex challenge: how to modernize aging campuses while preserving the history and memories that generations of families hold dear.听This challenge听isn鈥檛听just a construction assignment 鈥斕齣t鈥檚听a responsibility. And the path to success begins with one essential step: listening.听
Community Listening: The Foundation of Every Great听School Campus Renovation听
Many听contractors听can renovate a school, but when construction and design teams听seek input from the community听about what makes听a听school unique, those qualities can be reflected in the听renovated school campus.听McCarthy听Building Companies鈥櫶鼸ducation team听members听regularly听participate听in parent forums, neighborhood workshops, teacher feedback听sessions听and design charrettes to uncover ideas that may not otherwise听come to the surface听when a school renovation is being planned.听Listening efforts often reveal traditions,听symbols听or architectural elements that help anchor a campus鈥櫶齬eimagined听identity.听
At鈥疓alveston Elementary School鈥痠n Arizona鈥檚 Chandler Unified School District 鈥� opened in 1963 鈥� these conversations shaped the direction of the school鈥檚 $35 million transformation. Community members shared memories of outdoor gathering spaces that once served as the heart of campus life. Their insights guided the design of new shade structures, flexible courtyards and shared areas that blend nostalgia with modern learning environments.听
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter how sophisticated the design plans are 鈥� if the campus doesn鈥檛 reflect the heart of the community, something is missing,鈥澨�said听Matt Lyons,听business unit leader with McCarthy鈥檚 Education team in Phoenix. 鈥淭he best听campus听renovations听happen when we infuse the school鈥檚 heritage directly into the new build.鈥�听
Shifting Campus听Learning Environments听to Meet听Modern Education听Needs听
Today鈥檚 students pursue a broader range of interests than ever 鈥� spanning arts, STEM, CTE, athletics听and more. As a result, modernizing and听remodeling K-12 campuses听increasingly includes听adding or expanding听multipurpose spaces, flexible classrooms and outdoor teaching areas designed for multidisciplinary learning.听
The new Galveston Elementary campus听transitioned its traditional learning space to include听arts-focused classrooms, multipurpose collaboration zones, outdoor learning听spaces听and flexible听environments that support both small-group instruction and larger activities. Teachers and administrators emphasized听the need for听spaces that make hands-on learning creative,听social听and academically connected.听
Two major Phoenix-based听renovations now underway听鈥斺�疢adison Rose Lane Elementary School鈥痑nd鈥疢etro Tech High School听鈥� are incorporating similar principles.听
As one of the oldest schools in Madison鈥檚 135-year-old district, Madison Rose Lane carries significant historic value. Early listening sessions revealed a desire to honor the school鈥檚 legacy through preserved architectural听elements,听pathway updates reflecting original circulation patterns and spaces that highlight its longstanding arts identity.听
The remodel will also deliver expanded arts classrooms, enhanced safety features, outdoor learning听areas听and flexible indoor environments that can adapt as student needs听evolve.听
鈥淲orking with McCarthy has been a collaborative and inspiring experience. Through the listening sessions, their team actively engaged with us, gathering ideas and finding solutions,鈥� said听Andre听Reyes, Madison Rose Lane听Principal.听鈥淭hey showed a real commitment to understanding what makes Madison Rose Lane special, and in doing so, they are building a school that our students, teachers and community truly deserve. We always say that Madison Rose Lane CARES, and McCarthy has exemplified that same spirit of care and partnership throughout this process.鈥濃���听
Metro Tech High School 鈥� originally opened as West High in 1949 and repurposed as a vocational school in 1985 鈥� is also undergoing听major听modernization. Today, Metro Tech is one of Phoenix Union鈥檚 most dynamic CTE-focused campuses, yet its facilities require听significant听updates听to听match听modern technological capabilities and听modern career training听program听needs.听
Metro Tech High School Principal Shawna Wright said, 鈥淭his renovation shifts听what鈥檚听possible for our students in real, tangible ways.听We鈥檙e听not just updating walls and equipment.听We鈥檙e听building collaborative spaces that will give students the skills they need to exceed in jobs we have not even imagined yet.鈥�听
Local businesses,听neighbors,听faculty听and students听were engaged to听provide听DLR Group and McCarthy听input on听Metro Tech鈥檚听campus remodel.听As a result, the听campus is听adding new collaborative labs听with听space for听future program听growth; technology infrastructure听updates; and听improving听the campus听flow听to听enhance the student experience.听Adding to the听project鈥檚听complexity is the sequencing of听eight听construction听phases on the active campus, where safety is a priority, while accommodating the successful renovation and relocation of听the ballfields, gymnasium,听utilities听and parking lot.听听
Hands-On Learning: Bringing Students听into听the听Construction听Process听
Another听value听central to McCarthy鈥檚 Education team is engaging students through construction-themed learning opportunities听and activities to help make the renovation process more fun for students and teachers being displaced during the project, and to show students how construction enhances our communities and can be a rewarding career.听听
Construction Clubs,听which McCarthy听hosts in听elementary and middle schools across the听Southwest听for听over听a decade,听allow students to experience听working in the听construction trades firsthand.听Students听engage in activities involving听carpentry, plumbing, electrical,听virtual modeling听and other tasks, applying skills from classes like math, science, technology, art and others, while being听guided by听McCarthy team members and others on the project team to work on an aspect of construction that鈥檚 happening on the project at their school.听For example, during听construction听at听Metro Tech,听students听in the school鈥檚 construction and electrical programs are听being given these听opportunities as their campus transforms around them听
At Galveston Elementary,听the听McCarthy听team engaged students a little differently by听creating听an 鈥淓lf on the Shelf鈥� construction challenge听that听involved daily听math and reading clues tied to the听campus听renovation. The activity generated schoolwide excitement and gave students a sense of听excitement and ownership听in the transformation happening around them.听
Programs like these听deepen students鈥� connection to their evolving听campus听and听simultaneously听introduces听them听to potential听career pathways听while seeing the听way what听they are learning in school has application in the future.听
Natalie Carroll is Business Development Manager for McCarthy鈥檚 K-12 Education Team based in Phoenix.听