Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy

Houston ISD, Houston, Texas

The Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy (MLCPA) is a magnet school in the Houston Independent School District serving grades 6 through 12 specializing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This 139,000 GSF college preparatory academy replaced the existing school with a modern educational facility oriented towards preparing young adults for college academics. MLCPA is serviced by City of Houston infrastructure – the property went through the City of Houston Joint Referral Committee (JRC) process to vacate the existing public right-of-way and deed it to the school.

Site challenges included resolving the status and alignment of several old utility easements crossing the site. The project also involved partial replacement and general renovations to complement portions of the Howard Payne Carter Career Center. The school expansion included the acquisition of several acres to be used as sports fields and to vacate a public street right-of-way to provide access to those fields.

GarzaEMC provided civil engineering services, including utility design for new water, wastewater and dry utilities, grading and drainage, and assisting in obtaining City of Houston permit approval. In addition, the GarzaEMC team provided site design for outdoor recreational facilities such as tennis and basketball courts.

Cost

$37M

Completion

2017

Size

139,000 GSF