Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $63 million contract June 29 to Munilla Construction Management, LLC of Miami for the consolidation and replacement of W.T. Sampson School, a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

"The current facilities are inadequate, undersized and do not accommodate our current student population," Capt. David Culpepper, NS Guantanamo Bay commanding officer. "The island has one school available for the children to attend, so it is imperative that we make the necessary upgrades for this aging facility. The quality of life for our residents and their families is of the utmost importance and the new school will provide a great opportunity for our children for many years."

This project will consolidate two existing schools at Guantanamo Bay into one school. The W.T. Sampson Elementary School will be demolished and a new multi-story consolidated school will be built on that site. Once the consolidated school is completed, the existing Middle-High School will be demolished.

The existing semi-permanent facilities were built in 1975 and 1983. The air conditioning and ventilation systems are failing and all the doors open to the exterior, creating challenges in dealing with the humidity in Cuba.

"The current facility layout has some shortfalls that impact educational activities and some [Americans with Disabilities Act] criteria deficiencies as well," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Richer, NS Guantanamo Bay public works officer. "Replacement is more economical than continued maintenance and repair of these aged facilities."

The award calls for the construction of a multi-story elementary-middle-high school composed of a shallow foundation, steel frame and reinforced masonry walls with decorative masonry and metal panels.

The new facility's interior walls will contain movable partition walls. Interior spaces will be outfitted and formatted for neighborhoods, learning studios, learning hubs, an information center, a computing center, science labs, a gymnasium, performance spaces, and commons/dining/food service. There will also be supply areas, specialist rooms, an art room, a music room, a band room, a science lab, learning impaired space, an occupational therapist/physical therapist space, career technical education space, counseling areas, storage, health offices, administrative offices, staff collaboration areas, and other required areas for a fully functioning pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school.

One planned modification to the contract would raise the value to more than $66 million. The modification would provide for furniture, fixtures and equipment.

The project is expected to be complete by November 2018.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.