By Eric Althoff
AUSTIN, Texas鈥�Project management and preconstruction firm HPM is partnering with Bartlett Cocke General Contractors and architect O鈥機onnell Robertson on a 46,500-square-foot, $31 million consolidation of Early College High School (ECHS), located in the Texas capital community of Round Rock.听 Currently, ECHS is operating out of 10 portable buildings on the Austin Community College campus in Round Rock campus, so the construction work will consolidate their operations into a single building comprising 46,500 square feet of educational space.听
In addition to modern classrooms, the new building will offer science labs, a cafeteria space, fitness center, outdoor dining, study spaces and student breakout areas.听听听
Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said at the recent groundbreaking that a new permanent home for the school is a major achievement in the school鈥檚 ongoing partnership with Austin Community College.听听听
鈥淲e’re thankful to the community for supporting our students by voting for the 2018 Bond, and to our Board of Trustees and the ACC Board for their partnership and collaboration,鈥� said Azaiez.听
鈥淲e are pleased to continue our legacy of providing premier program management services on K-12 initiatives with this meaningful, game-changing project for Round Rock ISD,鈥� added HPM President Ryan Austin.听 鈥淪oon, ECHS students and faculty will have a state-of-the-art facility to call home that provides the nurturing, modernized learning environment needed to continue achieving the level of education they deserve.鈥澨�听
The new ECHS, which will serve around 500 students, will open in time for the 2025-2026 school year.听听
鈥淲e are excited to work alongside Round Rock ISD and additional partners, and look forward to announcing future milestones as progress advances,鈥� added Austin.听