At 5:41 p.m. CDT on Sunday, May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado touched down in Joplin, Mo. In the next 31 minutes, the mile-wide, multiple-vortex tornado, with winds up to 250 mph, killed 158, injured 990, and destroyed two thousand buildings, including Joplin High and nine other schools.
Two days later, Dr. C. J. Huff, Joplin Schools Superintendent, declared that school would open as scheduled on August 17. On May 24, the Building Team of DLR Group, Corner Greer Associates, Crocker Consulting Engineers, and Crossland Construction was tasked with creating an interim high school from the rubble of Joplin High.
PROJECT SUMMARY
JOPLIN INTERIM HIGH SCHOOL
Joplin, Mo.Building Team
Submitting firms: DLR Group (architect, educational planner) and Corner Greer Associates (AOR)
Owner: Joplin (Mo.) Schools
Electrical engineer: Crocker Consulting Engineers, Inc.
General contractor: Crossland ConstructionGeneral Information
Size: 96,000 sf
Construction cost: $5,500,000
Construction time: June 2011 to August 2011
Delivery method: Design-build
One of the few options open to the Building Team was an abandoned big-box retail space in the local mall. The school district quickly closed the deal on the lease, and design began on June 1. Twenty-four hours later, the team had a working Revit BIM model of the 96,000-sf structure that allowed Crossland to start ordering materials. The 3D model enabled the designers to keep working on construction documents, while at the same time presenting rendered images of interior spaces to school officials for approval.
Fifty-five business days after getting the go-ahead, the Building Team delivered a fully functional high school for 1,200 students. Joplin Interim High School opened on schedule August 17, 2011. +
Related Stories
Architects | Feb 24, 2020
Design for educational equity
Can architecture not only shape lives, but contribute to a more equitable and just society for marginalized people?
AEC Tech | Feb 22, 2020
Investor interest in the built environment not quite as avid in 2019
Builtworlds’ annual list of venture deals led by workspace providers.
Modular Building | Feb 16, 2020
On the West Coast, prefab gains ground for speedier construction
Gensler has been working with component supplier Clark Pacific on several projects.
AEC Tech | Feb 13, 2020
Exclusive research: Download the final report for BD+C's Giants 300 Technology and Innovation Study
This survey of 130 of the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms tracks the state of AEC technology adoption and innovation initiatives at the AEC Giants.
Office Buildings | Feb 11, 2020
Forget Class A: The opportunity is with Class B and C office properties
There’s money to be made in rehabbing Class B and Class C office buildings, according to a new ULI report.
Architects | Feb 6, 2020
NBBJ acquires immersive technology design studio ESI Design
NBBJ has acquired experience design studio ESI Design. The acquisition signals a new era where buildings will be transformed into immersive and interactive digital experiences that engage and delight.
Sponsored | HVAC | Feb 3, 2020
Reliable Building Systems Increase Net Operating Income by Retaining Tenants
Tenants increasingly expect a well-crafted property that feels unique, authentic, and comfortable—with technologically advanced systems and spaces that optimize performance and encourage collaboration and engagement. The following guidance will help owners and property managers keep tenants happy.
Architects | Jan 29, 2020
Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture school is closing
The school was established in 1932.
Libraries | Jan 23, 2020
Information or community center: The next generation of libraries must be both
Are libraries still relevant in a digital world?
Green | Jan 10, 2020
How the new EC3 tool raises the bar on collective action
Nearly 50 AEC industry organizations partnered to develop the groundbreaking Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator.