2023 Bond Update Archive

District Wide Safety and Security Upgrades – Bidding is now underway

As we are preparing and planning to implement many changes to our buildings and campuses, one project that will provide improvements district-wide is addressing our safety and security needs. We are actively in the competitive sealed proposal process with vendors and proposals are due September 5^th. The district has engaged with Leaf Engineers, an engineering firm that delivers a full spectrum of engineering services, encompassing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, commissioning and fire protection, along with advanced technology, AV, and security consulting.The engineer works closely with the district, administrators, key stakeholders and the program manager to understand the safety and security needs on our campuses and how best to ensure any new technology will be a cohesive solution, that will continue to grow with the future needs of our schools. 

Preparing this proposal package included a very detailed process of visiting every location, walking the halls, and mapping out existing functionality while thoroughly addressing any lapses in coverage. Also, creating a new standard footprint so we are ready to implement a consistent design and approach in our new future spaces.

Proposals received will include improvements at the following 
locations/campuses: 

• Huffman Administration Building
• Hargrave High School
• Huffman Middle School
• Huffman Elementary School 
•  Falcon Ridge Elementary School
• Maintenance and DAEP
• Huffman Stadium, Press Box, and Auxiliary buildings

 

Once proposals are received, they will be graded based on the following criteria: pricing, general experience, proposed solution, proposed personnel, quality assurance, subcontractors and in-person interviews. The winning vendor will be presented to the board for approval on September 23rd.

The safety and security projects are expected to begin at the end of September with substantial completion to all locations by mid-April 2025.

Stay tuned as we continue to share insights on Bond initiatives and projects that are progressing forward.

A closer look inside the design charrette?

In our May update we explained what a design charrette is and how important they are to shape the look and feel of our new spaces. After touring other CTE buildings to gather ideas in June, our design charrette took place in July. Key stakeholders gathered over two days to participate in the charrette to focus on the needs and wants of our own CTE Building. Day one is about sharing ideas and feedback, while day two is more focused on fine tuning all of the feedback from day one. Additional adjustments and improvements are implemented and at the end of day two, our CTE center starts to take shape! Although the image below is not final, it is representative of the collaboration and design work taking place. Here is a peek at what the process looked like. A big thank you to all of those who participated and provided crucial feedback and ideas.

Huffman Elementary Re-Roofing Project Begins

You may have noticed lots of activity around Huffman Elementary School as preparation began for the roofing project. Back in April, we engaged with Beam Professionals, a Roof Consultant company, to inspect and assess the roofing needs at Huffman Elementary.  The proposal process started in late May with sealed proposals due by June 17th. We had a total of 12 vendor responses to review and grade. However, in the end, the winner was Argio Roofing & Construction, which was approved by the board on June 24th. We wanted to share some highlights of the roofing process, project milestones, and expected timeline to completion.

During the proposal process and throughout the construction meetings between the district, the architects, the roofing consultant, our program manager, and Argio Roofing, we make it clear that all work performed should minimize any disruption to the school day, bus lanes, and student drop off/pick up lanes.

Mobilization officially began the week of July 30th and substantial completion is expected on October 25th.

Project milestones include:

• Sweeping existing gravel

• Roof installation – work in stages

• Waterproofing

• Installing Cap Sheet

• Installing Metal Trims

• Final Inspection

Stay tuned as we continue to take a closer look at all of the projects that make up our Bond Initiatives.

 

What is the Design Development Phase?

In the previous Schematic Design Phase, we discussed how important decisions will be made to plan for what elements will be in our new places and spaces. After the design charrette, the look and feel also starts to take shape. The next step in the process is called the Design Development or “DD” Phase, where we really start to dig into the details.

 

Decisions will be made about the placement of doors and windows and any final adjustments to the building’s form and shape. A structural engineer joins the design team to assist with more accurate estimates as the designs are becoming more finalized. The exterior and interior finish choices are discussed and finalized along with other materials and fixtures. Decisions will be made based on aesthetic, function and cost. Often this is where there is some back and forth with design decisions and options that require comprise on all sides to meet the design and budget requirements. After all it’s easier to make changes on paper (or digitally), than after construction begins!

 

The five main deliverables of the DD Phase include:

 

• Plans – Floor and ceiling plans for every level of the structure, including layouts of restrooms, classrooms, laboratories, and lobbies.
• Sections – Section drawings provide a top to bottom overview of the building envelope and the spaces in between. You can see the relationship between floors, walls, windows, ceilings, roofs and other infrastructure.
• Elevations – Structure elevations including building façade, dimensions and materials. All fixed and operable doors and windows will be clearly indicated.
• Materials – A list of basic materials for all elements of the structure, envelope and interior will be noted and coordinated across all drawings. A schedule of finishes will include things like flooring, walls, fixtures and ceiling materials.
• Specifications – Although the specifications will not yet be completely finalized at this point, there will be an outline created to assist with more accurate construction documents. This outline will assist in the bidding and construction of the project.

At the end of this stage, the building’s exterior, layout and dimensions are finalized and most of the materials will have been chosen. There may still be some minor changes to the building design, but the next phase will move into creating working construction drawings, this is called the Construction Documents or “CD” phase. Stay tuned as we continue to share insights, behind the scenes actions, and education, all along the way.

 

What is the Schematic Design Phase? 

In the previous programming phase, decisions will have been made about what type of classrooms, labs, and career programs best suit the needs of HISD. These selections will have officially earned their way into our project plans. The Schematic Design Phase is where these spaces truly start to come alive and we establish the look and feel.

The architect uses a process called Design Charrette to gather feedback and creative ideas from all parties interested in the design of the project. The architect will host a 1-2 day collaborative session and present sketched design ideas to explore and share design ideas.

 

Participants in the charrette may

include administrators, board members, school leaders, department heads, educators, community members, program manager and the architect. The feedback and any refreshed ideas are analyzed and implemented into the design process. Getting buy-in and agreement at this stage is critical to avoid delays and costly changes to the construction schedule. This process of meeting and revising the design will continue until the design is agreed upon by all parties.

Benefits and goals of the design charrette:

• being inspired by design ideas from various people

• kick-starting a design or creating a solution through design

• arrive at a schematic design that the whole team has developed together through mutual consensus

 

Once the designs are agreed upon, the architect will develop a professionally published schematic design book capturing the overall vision established during the charrette and consequent design meetings. The book will describe building solutions, site plans, computer-generated three-dimensional renderings, a program summary, schedule, and probable cost statement.

Once the schematic design phase is complete, next up is the Design Development Phase. Stay tuned as we continue to share insights, behind the scenes actions, and education, all along the way.

Flock License Plate Recognition Cameras Installed

License plate readers play a critical role in the national crime and safety conversation. This is true especially as communities, businesses, and schools increasingly rely on technology to drive insights to generate leads and solve and prevent criminal activities.

• Instantly searchable data, including plate numbers or missing/covered plates, as well as vehicle make, model, color, alterations, and other unique identifying information. With a standard camera, you have to go through hours of footage to find the captured crime.
• Integration with local law enforcement to identify vehicles involved in crimes from retail theft to amber alerts. When the camera identifies a flagged license plate, the camera will notify the authorities automatically, with no action needed by the camera owner.
• Actionable evidence to bring to the authorities. Providing objective evidence mitigates bias and gives law enforcement what they need to quickly and effectively investigate a crime.
• 24/7 protection. Even full-time security guards can’t monitor the entirety of a property. And if a crime does occur on their watch, actionable evidence is not always available to make an arrest. 

The benefits of license plate recognition technology extend to many individuals within a community, from law enforcement and business owners, to neighborhoods, schools, and beyond..

 

What is the Design Pre-Planning Phase?

Behind the scenes much effort is being put in to drive our projects forward. We are currently in the Design Pre-Planning, or “Programing Phase,” working with our program manager, architects, campus principals, department directors and administration to determine scope and phasing of all projects. We know that these efforts are not always visible to our staff, students, and community, so we would like to share some of the actions taking place. 

During the programming phase, the architects, engineers, and program manager work with HISD and permitting jurisdictions to better understand the land, existing structures, infrastructure conditions and requirements, as well as the specific needs and goals for all of the projects being commissioned. Before the architects can sketch and model design ideas, they need to understand zoning, infrastructure conditions & demands, site considerations, local building codes, and more. Here is also where decisions are made regarding what goes into our new buildings and spaces. What are the specs and square footage of each new space based on use, occupancy, and equipment needs? A plan is finalized for everything from how many bathrooms are inside to how many parking spaces are outside. 

To prepare for the programming phase, a team of key stakeholders will be touring other local schools and CTE centers to understand the latest trends, see exciting new spaces and get ideas for things that will not only make Huffman students and staff thrive, but continue to meet the needs of our students well into the future. 

Once the programming phase is complete, we will move into the schematic design phase. Stay tuned as we continue to share insights, behind the scenes actions, and education, all along the way