27J Schools Successfully Complete Time-Sensitive Renovations With Job Order Contracting (JOC)

Challenge: Colorado School District Has a Full Slate of Summer Construction Projects

This experience came in handy in the waning days of 2023, when school leaders identified several projects they wanted to tackle during the following summer break. Work included renovating kitchens at four schools one of which, Northeast Elementary School, provided breakfast and lunch for the children at a neighboring Boys and Girls Club during the summer. Additionally, several classrooms needed complete renovations, the gymnasium required several long-overdue enhancements and the band room could no longer accommodate the 140+ students enrolled in one of the largest programs in Colorado.

District leaders had a lot of facility improvements on their plate, including a kitchen renovation that demanded a fast turnaround. They needed a way to hit the ground running once summer began, to start work as soon as possible and complete it without disrupting regular activities.

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Solution: 27J Schools Make the Most of Summer with Gordian’s Cooperative JOC

27J Schools Construction Project Manager Becky Smith was first introduced to Gordian’s Job Order Contracting (JOC) at a conference in October of 2023. After discovering its benefits, she recognized the value this innovative project delivery method could have for the school district and its potential for helping SD27J finish more projects using fewer resources. This is a common experience with JOC, a construction procurement solution that allows for many projects to be completed with a single, competitively awarded contract.

One of the many reasons public entities like JOC for repairs and renovations is it doesn’t skip steps in the process. In other words, Job Order Contracting doesn’t bypass applicable laws and regulations; rather, it satisfies them efficiently.

Leaders at SD27J opted to complete its bevy of projects with Gordian’s Cooperative JOC, a solution available to them via Sourcewell, a purchasing cooperative servicing the public sector across North America. With preset costs and vetted contractors identified and awarded, these contracts are construction-ready and can help projects get rolling immediately.

Once the district approved the project delivery method, and a local JOC contractor was selected, the project moved swiftly. By spring 2024, construction was ready to begin.

Result: A Masterclass in Collaboration, Commitment and Execution

“We wouldn’t have been able to turn this [project] around as quickly as we did if we hadn’t gone through the JOC process.”

Becky Smith, Construction Project Manager, 27J Schools

The kitchen renovations – spread across an elementary school, two middle schools and a high school campus – were given top priority, as they needed to be fully functional in time for the 2024-2025 school year. The Northeast Elementary School kitchen, the one servicing the Boys and Girls Club, was of special concern.

After collaborating with the district’s Nutrition Services department and JOC Construction (the district’s awarded contractor, which shares a similar name with the project delivery method), a plan to complete all four kitchens on time and within budget was established. Since the Boys and Girls Club would need the Northeast Elementary School kitchen just two weeks into summer, the front end of that work started during spring break.

To the delight of all involved, JOC Construction, using Gordian’s Job Order Contracting, was able to finish all four kitchens on schedule. The elementary school’s kitchen was renovated in time to serve members of the Boys and Girls Club throughout the summer of 2024, a continuity these children and their families rely on. A pair of middle schools and Brighton High School also welcomed students with brand-new kitchen facilities in the fall.

“We wouldn’t have been able to turn this [project] around as quickly as we did if we hadn’t gone through the JOC process,” said Becky Smith. “As you know, you can’t start school and not serve breakfast or lunch. [JOC Construction] was fantastic to work with. They were more than willing to make things happen and go above and beyond my expectations.”

But there was still more work to do before SD27J could call the summer a success. Again, using JOC was helpful. Since one contract covers multiple projects, the district was not required to solicit separate bids for additional work, including work on the band room. The renovation included asbestos abatement, installation of new lockers and an expansion to accommodate the thriving band program.

Additionally, an aging middle school gymnasium underwent essential flooring repairs to improve the experience for student-athletes, parents and spectators, and to bring the facility up to the standards of peer schools.

All work, valued at $2.7 million in total, was completed between May 31 and August 28, 2024. Together, these renovations reflect a holistic approach to student success. They nourish body, mind and spirit by creating safe, modern and inspiring spaces that meet the growing needs of the school and its community. The renovations made such a profound impact on students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff and the community that Gordian honored SD27J and JOC Construction with a 2024 Award of Merit in Job Order Contracting.

The district’s engagement with Gordian’s Job Order Contracting is far from over. Heading into 2025, SD27J plans to use the innovative construction procurement solution to complete critical security enhancements. This includes the installation of a financial transaction window to take payments, as well as a secure entry vestibule at Brighton High School.