The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is in the home stretch of completing the Fort Knox Middle School in Kentucky.
The $23 million project is now 80 percent complete with turnover expected later this year. The 2019 school year will welcome approximately 385 students to a new twenty-first century Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school.
“The layout follows the new DoDEA school concept with an open learning environment with three learning hubs, learning studios, and open, adaptable areas with operable partitions,” said Alex McCoy, USACE Louisville District Project Engineer.
The 51,000 square-foot school differs from the cinder-block schools from the past. It has a bright color scheme of oranges, greens and blues running throughout, large skylights in the main areas, and a courtyard intended as an oasis for students.
“It’s a unique feature that will be really nice for the kids,” said Carl Lindsay, lead construction representative. “It’s a place they can go eat lunch during the nicer weather and can also be used as a privilege for good behavior.”
Students of the new school have already had an opportunity to learn from the construction process.
“We partnered with our contractor, Walsh Construction Company, to do STEM sessions where the students toured the site to see the construction and had a chance to ask questions,” said McCoy.
USACE and Walsh covered what engineering and construction careers offer. “It really grew their interest,” said McCoy. “It allowed them to see how their subject matter in the classroom applies to what they just saw on the ground.”