School and Campus Construction in Lawton, Oklahoma

An uprooted tree at Cameron University was among the damage reported after the June 15, 2023 storm, and a year-end story later put the campus damage above $1 million. Schools are open, public places with large roofs, tall trees and a fixed calendar, which makes them exposed in a way that a warehouse is not. That storm is one reason owners in Lawton ask about roofing, glazing and shelter before they ask about finishes.

Education buildings are built to a date. Students arrive on one day in August whether the contractor is ready or not, so the schedule is the real contract. A school or a college building also combines many uses: classrooms, labs, a cafeteria or bistro, a gym or auditorium, administration, and often a parking lot that serves evening events. We build these projects around the academic calendar, the public approval steps and the weather, and we set those down in writing before design is complete.

What a campus building has to do

A classroom wing needs acoustic separation, natural light, durable finishes and mechanical systems that keep a room of thirty people comfortable. Science labs add fume hoods, gas lines, eyewash stations and larger air volumes. Gyms and auditoriums have long spans and large mechanical rooms. Because the buildings are used by young people and the public, doors, stairs, railings and restrooms receive more wear than in an office, and we specify finishes accordingly.

Existing campuses add a second set of questions. A March 2020 gift of $1.25 million to Cameron University funded a library upgrade that included ADA restroom upgrades, a reconfigured first floor and expanded parking, expected to finish within the 2020-2021 academic year. That is a typical scope for renovation in an occupied building. Our service page for education facility construction lists the standard elements, and work on older buildings is covered in renovation and adaptive reuse.

Building to the first day of class

The calendar works backward from opening day. Furniture, technology and final cleaning need the last two to four weeks. Inspections and the certificate of occupancy take place before that. Mechanical start-up and testing happen before inspections. So a completion date of August 1 means mechanical systems running in early July, and the building enclosed by spring. We lay out this sequence at the start and show the owner which long-lead items, such as roof-top units, switchgear and curtain wall, set the pace.

Summer is the busy window, and trades are in demand for roofing and re-roofing after storms. We lock subcontractors early. Projects funded by public money add bid and award dates, and a private university may add board approvals. For delivery method, a school district or college may choose among design-build delivery, construction management at risk or low-bid. Our CM at-risk construction management page describes the second choice and the guaranteed maximum price.

Public building rules and local review

Where the owner is the state or a political subdivision, 61 O.S. section 11 requires plans for public buildings to provide facilities for people with disabilities that meet the codes and standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal. Elevators are required to the extent the contracting authority considers feasible and financially reasonable. Oklahoma's code page also points to federal ADA requirements. We review the drawings against both before submittal.

Projects follow the building, fire and electrical codes the City of Lawton adopts and enforces through Inspection Services and Fire Prevention, and we confirm which codes apply in writing. A complete building plan, with mechanical and electrical plans, is mandatory for a city permit. Contractors who request inspections in Lawton must hold a city license, and licensed trades must do electrical, mechanical and plumbing work. Campuses outside the city, including the Cameron University center in Duncan reported by Wikipedia, have local officials to confirm.

Occupied campuses and tornado protection

We separate the work zone from students and staff with fencing, signed routes and flaggers for deliveries. Noisy work, such as saw cutting and compaction, is scheduled for when classes are not in session. Background checks and visitor rules for workers are set by the owner, and we follow them; for a school, we ask the district what it requires before mobilization.

Tornado protection is a design question as well as a job-site question. The National Weather Service lists an F3 tornado on April 10, 1979 that began half a mile north of the airport and ran about two miles east of Lawton, killing three and injuring 100. The same tables list many more tornadoes across the county, so the history is clear. For new schools, owners often ask for a storm shelter or safe room designed to the national storm shelter standard, and we price that option early. On site, we monitor forecasts and keep a shelter plan for workers.

How we work with owners

Education owners are accountable to boards, taxpayers or donors. They need numbers that can be defended, so we give them cost by system, a schedule with the dates that cannot move, and clear lists of allowances and exclusions. Our preconstruction work also covers parking and site lighting, which are often overlooked, as the library project's expanded parking shows.

Partnerships with industry change what a campus needs. A June 2024 release said Westwin Elements, a nickel refinery, signed a memorandum of understanding with Cameron University for student development and regional workforce training. Training spaces with industrial equipment require power, ventilation and floor loading beyond a normal classroom. Our education institutions page describes how we work with those owners. A new building often sits next to a parking structure or a government building, and our notes on government and municipal buildings explain the public-sector parallels.

Plan your school project with us

Give us the opening date, the funding source and the campus. We will work back from the first day of class and show you the approvals and orders that set the pace.

Common Questions

When should we start design for an August opening?

Start roughly eighteen months ahead for a new building and about a year ahead for a major renovation. That leaves time for design, permit review, procurement and construction, with float for weather. If your funding or board approvals are not yet in hand, tell us, and we will show which dates slide with them.

Can renovation work happen while classes are in session?

Yes, with controls. We separate the work zone, schedule noisy tasks for after hours or breaks, and keep corridors and exits open. Larger interventions, such as roofing, structural changes and utility shutdowns, are placed in summer or between terms.

Do schools have to include storm shelters?

That is the owner's decision and the design team's. Oklahoma schools sit in tornado country, and the area's record includes violent tornadoes, so many owners choose shelters. We price the shelter as an alternate and explain how it affects the floor plan, the structure and the cost.

How do you handle accessibility on a public project?

We check the drawings against the federal ADA requirements that the state code references and, for state and political-subdivision buildings, against 61 O.S. section 11. We also walk accessible routes during construction before final inspection, because details such as slopes and clearances can drift in the field.

What caused the damage at Cameron University in 2023?

A June 15, 2023 storm brought golf-ball hail and gusts of 65 to 70 mph to Lawton. Reports describe an uprooted tree on campus and damage later estimated to exceed $1 million. We use it as a reminder to check roofs, glazing and tree placement during design.

Related