Site work under way for new state-of-the-art high school in Poinciana

November 28, 2005

Site development is under way for a new, state-of-the-art high school in Poinciana that has been designed to initially accommodate 2,400 students, grades 9-12.

Land is being cleared on a 60-acre tract between Poinciana Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road for the new $40 million school which is planned to open in August 2007. The site was made available by Avatar Properties Inc., developer and primary homebuilder in Poinciana, in a land swap with the School District of Osceola County (SDOC).

Designed by SchenkelShultz Architects of Orlando, the new Poinciana high school will be patterned somewhat after high schools the firm designed in Celebration and Harmony, but with some architectural distinctions, according to architect Dave Torbert, partner with SchenkelShultz.

The new 274,129 sq. ft. Poinciana high school will front Pleasant Hill Road and feature 3-story classroom buildings rather than two, and a media center integrated with classrooms rather than in a separate building, Torbert said.

The as yet unnamed school will be built around an open courtyard with covered walkway around the perimeter, and will include a 1,350-seat multi-purpose gymnasium, 650-seat auditorium, 700-seat cafeteria, library, art room, skills development computer labs, and music rooms for band and chorus.

Torbert said planning has provided space to add another permanent classroom building of from approximately 27,000 sq. ft. (1-story) to 81,000 sq. ft. (3 stories) that can accommodate an estimated 350-400 additional students per floor, or a total of about 1,000-1,200 additional students.

Outdoor facilities include a 3,000-seat lighted football stadium, lighted baseball and softball diamonds, two lighted soccer fields, four lighted tennis courts, and three lighted basketball courts.

Turner Construction Company of Orlando is the construction manager.

For more information, contact Eric Houston, SDOC assistant superintendent for maintenance and facilities, at (407) 518-2964; Dave Torbert, SchenkelShultz Architects, at (407) 872-5702; or Tony Iorio, Avatar’s vice president of land development, at (407) 933-5000.

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