Mastering School Renovation and Construction With Job Order Contracting (JOC)

Job Order Contracting (JOC) is an efficient and flexible construction procurement method that enables organizations to complete many projects with a single, competitively awarded contract. Responsible for tens of thousands of projects and $4 billion in construction volume every year, Gordian’s Job Order Contracting solutions are the go-to delivery method for various types of work. In this post, we’ll look at how JOC has been used successfully for school renovation and construction, both on higher education campuses and in K-12 facilities.

Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) Enhances Accessibility

In late June of 2023, Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) officials were notified of a newly enrolled middle school student who uses a wheelchair. The department quickly conducted an accounting of all sidewalks and discovered that those surrounding Waialua High and Intermediate School were too narrow to accommodate a wheelchair when classroom doors were open. School leaders took immediate action to rectify the situation and provide the incoming student with every opportunity to succeed by accessing a Gordian JOC program to widen the sidewalks before the academic year began. Not only did the project wrap up on time, but it also came in $11,000 under budget.

Los Lunas Schools Shores Up Campus Security

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, New Mexico’s Los Lunas Schools completed a run of construction projects to secure campus access points, decrease the number of high-touch surfaces and improve air quality. To ensure the work was done on time and the construction procurement process was transparent, the district used Gordian’s Cooperative Job Order Contracting, also known as ezIQC®.  

Available in select U.S. states and Canadian provinces via cooperative purchasing associations, interlocal agreements and group purchasing organizations (GPOs), this type of Job Order Contract is held by one organization and shared with many. With all the details ironed out and area contractors awarded, these projects can begin in a matter of days, making it ideal for completion within a limited scheduling window like summer break.  

Los Lunas Schools used Cooperative JOC to erect security fencing around their buildings and install sidewalks that direct visitors to the main entry, where they installed security doors and a designated sign-in area. Using Cooperative JOC instead of traditional project delivery methods like Design-Build or Design-Bid-Build enabled the district to do a lot of work in a short time.  

District leaders had no doubt the work would be done well and be done quickly. As Los Lunas Schools Superintendent Arsenio Romero explained, “Gordian has been an excellent partner to help us make sure that we get these done on time, at a high quality, making sure that we use local vendors and know exactly what that budget is going to be like so we can prepare for those projects.”

Do you belong to a co-op or GPO and want to start your next project quickly? Fill out our project entry form today!

School Renovation and Construction Work Breathes Life Into Unique Campus

With the goal of creating a unique, holistic learning experience, the University of Denver purchased a campground property to use as an outdoor campus. Eager to immerse students in the environment as soon as possible, university leaders turned to Gordian’s Job Order Contracting to upgrade existing infrastructure and make necessary facility improvements. ​ 

Four seasonal cabins were rehabbed to serve as all-weather short-term housing. Work included installing new insulation and flooring, finishing walls and updating mechanical, electric and fire suppression systems. A shower facility was gutted and rebuilt to comply with ADA standards. Finally, lighting improvements were made in the dining hall and the activity center. But the work wasn’t all indoors.  

Contractors laid nearly three miles of asphalt to allow for greater ease of access, and more than a dozen tons of locally quarried rock were brought in as riprap to help mitigate stormwater and snowmelt erosion. A $6 million campus overhaul, the University of Denver Kennedy Mountain project was completed in approximately four months.

Download the State of Facilities in Higher Education, 12^th Edition for an in-depth analysis of our database of 43,000 campus buildings and gain insights into space demand, enrollment trends and spending patterns.

George Washington University Renovates Dorm in 35 Days

With only 45 days before students arrived on campus, George Washington University recognized that the highly trafficked Mitchell Hall corridors needed urgent upgrades and decided to use some of its deferred maintenance budget to make the necessary improvements.

To make the most of its limited time to complete the renovations, university leaders turned to Gordian’s Job Order Contracting. The awarded contractor replaced fluorescent lighting with an energy-efficient alternative, remediated mold discovered during the demolition process, repainted, replaced worn carpeting with new flooring and installed acoustical ceilings. The project was finished well ahead of the fall semester. As a result of the incredible time savings and the collaboration between the university and their awarded contractor, Centennial, the Mitchell Hall makeover won the 2019 Harry H. Mellon Award of Excellence in Job Order Contracting. 

From rural elementary schools to prestigious universities, Gordian’s Job Order Contracting helps school renovation and construction projects run smoothly and finish on time.