Maryland County to build six schools in P3 arrangement

Prince George’s County, Md., plans to build six new schools costing nearly $1 billion in a P3 public-private partnership.

The county, which will select a private company to handle construction and maintenance, will be the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to build schools under a P3 plan, according to the Washington Informer. The cost would have an annual cap of $32 million for 30 years to build the schools for an estimated total of $960 million.

The RFP calls for at least 30% of the contract value to be procured through minority and county-based businesses. The first schools would be occupied by July 15, 2023, and all schools would be completed a year later.

After construction is completed, the school system would regain control of the buildings.

The county will receive some state funding toward the projects.

LPA Architects conducted a post-occupancy evaluation, or POE, of the eSTEM Academy, a new high school specializing in health/medical and design/engineering Career Technical Education, in Eastvale, Calif. The POE helped LPA, the Riverside County Office of Education, and the Corona-Norco Unified School District gain a better understanding of which design innovations—such as movable walls, flex furniture, collaborative spaces, indoor-outdoor activity areas, and a student union—enhanced the education program, and how well students and teachers used these innovations.

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