Ground was broken this week for $7.2 million in upgrades, which includes a modified multi-use structure, at Paradise Valley Engineering Academy.
Heavy construction equipment began digging, moving soil and setting up the layout for the Measure G project on the northeast field on the 37-year-old campus.
The project scope, unanimously approved by the board at the Oct. 4, 2016 school board meeting, includes modernization of the existing administration and classroom pod into the multi-purpose facility; installation of new Gen7 modular classrooms to replace lost classrooms taken up by MUR; construction of a new administration building; and associated surrounding landscape/fencing.
The conversion of the existing pod—one of three on the LaCrosse Drive campus—that includes the administration offices, library and classrooms will take away classrooms. Those rooms will be replaced by the modular Gen7 buildings. The new MUR will have an indoor amphitheater-style or half-circle design, according to district plans.
Paradise Valley was transformed into an engineering focus academy for the 2016-17 school year.
Estimated completion dates are August 2017 for the Gen7 classrooms; and January 2018 for the multi-purpose room and new administration building.
