Miami Dade County Public Schools, Holmes Braddock High School, Miami, Florida

The HADP goal on the project was to deliver an outstanding design for Florida’s largest high school in record setting time and within a tight budget.

Holmes Braddock is one of the largest high schools in Florida and one of the largest in the United States with 400,000 s.f. of gross area and a design population of over 3,000 students. The HADP designed high school opened to over 5,000 students in attendance on opening day due to the explosive growth in the west Kendall area of Miami. The firm accomplished the extradonary challenge of meeting the required opening date by working on an extremely fast track basis. In order to accomplish the schedule demands, the firm employed an “on site” design charrette process in order to meet with all involved teachers, administrators and school board officials to design the school in a period of only 30 days. Final drawings were produced in less than four months.

Holmes Braddock houses not only instructional and administrative spaces, but also a gym with a capacity of approximately 3,000 seats and a large cafeteria which includes a full service kitchen and snack bar capable of feeding over 3,500 sit-down meals in a period of less than 1-1/2 hours. The school is equipped for extensive use of computerization including a sophisticated TV production studio, closed circuit TV, and voice and data ports to every classroom. Development of the 43 acre site includes parking for 1,200 cars, competition athletic fields that incorporate an eight lane quarter mile track with a 220 yard straightway and an adjacent area for competition pole vault, high and broad jump pits, discus, shot-put and hammer throws. Football and soccer fields, regulation baseball and softball fields, 6 tennis courts and 5 basketball courts, as well as 4-three-wall racquetball courts were also part of the project. The project was designed and constructed in a total time of 24 months which constitutes a record setting performance. The project achieved the fastest delivery in the history of the school district. Utilizing a Design-Build approach the project was bid and constructed below budget.