GMHS PROJECT MOVING TO NEXT PHASE

SCHOOL BOARD SELECTS CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN TEAM

Artist Rendering

The Falls Church School Board is advancing toward the next Milestone in the GMHS Campus Project with the selection of Gilbane Construction with Stantec and Quinn Evans Architects as contractors and architects for the new George Mason High School.

George Mason High School PPEA Design + Construction

"The design put forth by the Gilbane team is nothing short of brilliant," said Superintendent Peter Noonan. "It is everything the community has asked for and more. I'm very excited as we now move into the home stretch with engagement between the architects and the community beginning in earnest."

During the July 17, 2018 School Board meeting, the Gilbane team presented an overview of their design. Much of the project plan is available here.

The winning design is Net-Zero Ready and LEED Gold Certified. Gilbane's proposal also expresses the potential of the construction being completed sometime around December 2020 and January 2021 - six months earlier than planned.

Following the presentation, the School Board authorized the Superintendent to enter into a contract with the Gilbane group which the City Council will consider at its meeting on July 23rd. A summary of the $108 million contract is available on the Campus Project website in the Document Repository. The full document is also available for public inspection on BoardDocs, and during regular business hours at the FCCPS Central Office, 150 South Washington Street, Suite 400, Falls Church, VA.

Following the School Board and City Council approval, a series of public meetings and forums are scheduled before the finalization of the design in late October:

  • August 5th - 2:00 p.m. - George Mason High School
    Full Design Presentation Gilbane Construction, Stantec, and Quinn Evans Architects
    Community reaction, and comments

  • September 6th - 7:00 p.m. - George Mason High School
    Update of the August 5th meeting incorporating internal and community recommendations received.
    Subcommittee Breakout Sessions in classrooms.
    Report out will follow.
    REGISTER FOR SUBCOMMITTEE

  • September 23 - 2:00 p.m. - George Mason High School
    Midpoint meeting for General Public. Update of prior meetings
    Subcommittee Breakout Sessions in classrooms.
    Update on the City Economic Development RFDP

  • September 26 - 7:00 p.m. - Joint PTA/PTSA Meeting - George Mason High School
    Midpoint Meeting - Duplicate of Sept 23rd meeting (no Subcommittee breakout sessions)
    Questions & Answers

  • TBD: Mid-October - 7:00 p.m. - George Mason High School
    Final meeting.
    Architect review of all design changes and enhancements

“This has been a long, thoughtful process,” Dr. Noonan said. “I hope our community will remain engaged in the coming months as we put the final polish on a plan to build a facility that will be transformational for our students and worthy of our community for the next generation to come.

Timeline

This project, well over ten years in the making, began its final phases last November following the overwhelming approval of the High School Bond Referendum. In a competitive selection process, an initial group of five well-qualified proposers received a Detailed Request for Proposals (DRFP), on which to base thoughtful designs for the new George Mason High School. The School Board's DRFP included the division's educational specifications and information gleaned from the many public meetings, forums, and comments received from the community.

In February, a Down-Select Committee pared the five proposers to three from which a Final Selection Committee, made up of School and City representatives, made a unanimous final recommendation late last month. Since then, members of the School Board have had the opportunity to review the Gilbane group's recommended design proposal in depth before Tuesday night's approval.

The official groundbreaking is set for the last day of school, June 14th, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at George Mason High School.