TEMPE, AZ Arredondo Elementary School in Tempe, Arizona, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with McCarthy Building Companies.

The event took place immediately following the school's Meet the Teacher night and attendees were treated to hot dogs just prior to the ceremony courtesy of McCarthy Building Companies, the general contractor that led the building addition and renovations.

The school, which was originally built in 1973, underwent extensive renovations over the 2016-17 school year expanding the campus to 66,813 square feet, with 27 classrooms, three music rooms, a project lab and an assessment lab.

Within the new and renovated spaces there are:

Five common spaces throughout the campus within the classroom areas (breakout areas with secondary supervision)
A new updated learning commons (library) was designed to be a community asset, renovated multipurpose room and a 3,000-square-foot cafeteria with a new kitchen/serving area
Increased parent and staff parking and student drop-off and pick-up
Enlarged and dedicated bus drop-off and pick-up location
Day lighting within all classrooms, which will result in energy savings created by the renovations and new building lighting and mechanical systems
Increased security throughout the campus
Reoriented campus to provide a welcoming front entrance
Outdoor learning spaces

The $11.8 million project was funded thanks to the passage of a bond election in 2009. DLR Group served as the architect on the project. 

"In projects like Arredondo, it is important to understand the difference between renovation and transformation. Arredondo is more than a renovation with new additions; it really represents a transformation of the entire facility reflecting the heart and spirit of the community," said Pamela Loeffelman, Vice President of Education, DLR Group.

Arredondo Elementary School's name honors longtime Tempe residents Alejandro and Josefa Arredondo. Mrs. Arredondo worked in Tempe Elementary cafeterias. All of the Arredondo children have worked in education.

"The Education Services team at McCarthy was honored to work with the district and DLR Group on this project and incorporate hands-on STEM learning activities with the students at Arredondo, who were involved throughout the process last year," said David Peterson, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Educations Services team at McCarthy. "We know this school is an important part of Tempe's community fabric and more than four decades of students have received elementary education there. The renovated school pays homage to Arredondo's history while modernizing the facility for 21st century learning. We wish all the Roadrunners a great year in their new campus."