New Harris County adult, alternative education facilities to be added as buildings age (Source: Houston Business Journal)

By Laura Gillespie

The Harris County Department of Education, which handles adult education, after school care and other alternative education, will build two new schools and undertake other improvement projects for old facilities.

The $36.1 million effort includes an adult education facility, a new Highpoint Middle School and interior renovations to the existing Ronald Reagan Administration Building.

The adult education facility, at 6515 Irvington Blvd., will be 51,000 square feet and was designed by Cre8 Architects. It will accommodate 1,000 to 1,200 students and will have 17 classrooms, five laboratories, community and multipurpose rooms, administrative spaces, and a two-level parking garage. It will cost $19.1 million and will replace several older buildings, creating a new, community college-like campus.

“The facilities are being designed taking into account the special needs of HCDE’s students and educators,” said JP Grom, LAN’s vice president. “Once completed, the new facilities will provide them the learning environment and infrastructure needed for the next few decades.”