Step
Preconstruction: TEA compliance review and summer schedule backwards-planning
We begin education facility projects by reviewing the architectural drawings against Texas Education Agency Design Standards and Texas Accessibility Standards, identifying any compliance gaps before the permit set is finalized. Simultaneously, we build the master schedule backward from the required school opening date to identify the latest possible dates for procurement, structural completion, MEP rough-in, drywall, flooring, commissioning, and punch walk. That backward schedule tells us immediately whether the proposed scope can be delivered in the available construction window — and if not, we identify which scopes can be phased or deferred to a subsequent summer.
Step
City of Irving permit submission and TEA plan review
Public school construction in Texas requires TEA plan review and approval in addition to the local building permit. TEA review is conducted through the Texas Facilities Division and typically runs four to eight weeks for a complete submission. We coordinate the TEA submission package in parallel with the City of Irving commercial permit submission, using the foundation permit to allow site work to proceed while both reviews are underway. Irving ISD projects also require a Fire Marshal pre-submittal meeting that we schedule before the permit set is issued.
Step
Procurement with summer window constraints
Education facility procurement must account for the fact that many mechanical and electrical equipment items carry fabrication lead times that conflict with a summer construction window if they are not ordered well in advance. We identify long-lead equipment during the design development phase — air handling units, gym HVAC, kitchen equipment, and switchgear — and issue purchase orders before the construction contract is executed when necessary to protect the schedule. For Irving ISD projects, procurement follows the district's competitive bidding requirements under Texas Education Code, which we understand and can support with the required documentation.
Step
Field execution: summer construction pace and occupied-campus protocols
During active summer construction windows, we increase field supervision intensity to maintain the pace required to meet the August turnover date. For renovation projects in occupied campuses — where construction is happening in one wing while summer school or administrative operations continue in another — we install temporary construction barriers, maintain HVAC separation, and enforce access control protocols to keep students and staff separated from the construction zone. Security and controlled access are especially important on Irving ISD campuses given the district's security protocols.
Step
Commissioning, punchlist, and first-day-of-school turnover
Commissioning for school projects includes HVAC functional testing for classroom comfort, fire alarm acceptance testing, emergency lighting battery testing, and gymnasium HVAC performance verification — all of which require coordination with City of Irving and Irving ISD facilities staff in the final two weeks before opening. We conduct a final walkthrough with the school principal and the district's facilities department to confirm that all teaching spaces, restrooms, and shared areas are ready for occupancy before the first day of school. Operating manuals and as-built drawings are delivered at turnover.
