Gilbane Building Company Breaks Ground on New High School in Galveston

Galveston ISD, Gilbane Building Company, and its partners host groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction of Ball High School & Natatorium

GALVESTON, Texas, May 5, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Team members from Galveston Independent School District, Zero/Six Consulting, Gilbane Building Company, J.W. Kelso Construction, and PBK Architects gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Ball High School. Standing behind the podium in a wall of purple and gold, Ball High School cheerleaders, marching band, and ROTC all came out to join in the festivities. Other community members from the GISD District, GISD Visioning Committee, and GISD Educational Fund also attended to show overwhelming support for passing the 2023 GISD Bond Program and the new 457,500 sq ft campus.

"As a Galveston County resident and Gilbane employee, I am super proud that our team was selected to build the new high school. This is beyond monumental for our community," said David Cooper, project executive, Gilbane Building Company.

The project will demolish the current Ball High School structure and construct a new building, as well as a natatorium and press box at Courville Stadium. The new school will serve 2,500 students, with the two buildings sitting on either side of Avenue O. The project is set to begin construction over summer break and will be completed in two phases. The project is slated for substantial completion in 2025.

"This unique and challenging project will be great for the community and the residents of Galveston County. I am grateful to be part of the team and looking forward to starting soon," said Ahmed Alsaffar, project manager, Gilbane Building Company. "At Gilbane, we always rise to the challenge. This is another project that will require everybody's effort to get it past the finish line, but I know we will succeed."

The high school was originally constructed in 1953 and underwent major renovations in 2007. As part of the 2022 GISD 2022 Bond program, the facility replacement will expand the many programs already offered at Ball High School and address needs identified by the visioning committee. The new facility will be constructed on the existing site of the current building.

"It is time that the kids in Galveston have first class facilities." said Dr. Matthew Hay, former GISD trustee, and Galveston Educational Foundation board member. "Our children, who are the future of Galveston, the future of Texas, and the future of the United States, are going to be taught in first class facilities. If you can think of our kids and what they produce now and then put them in those facilities, our kids are going to continue to rule the world."

About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. With an increased demand for private, institutional, and public projects, Gilbane remains a trusted partner in providing construction services for our Texas clients. Since 1981, we have developed a reputation for quality service and client satisfaction. Our team is dedicated to providing an exceptional client experience, prioritizing safety, creating high-quality design solutions, and delivering projects on time and within budget.
Visit http://www.gilbaneco.com for more information.

Media Contact

Emmilyne Thomas, Gilbane Building Company, 8322294431, [email protected]

SOURCE Gilbane Building Company