Item:
Title
Approval of Capital Project Amendment No. 25CPA0036 Appropriating $186,649,809.10 of 2022 General Obligation Bond Funding to the New Durham School of Arts Project (SH299) Bringing the Total Project Budget to $241,070,536
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: March 10, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Capital Project Amendment No. 25CPA036 appropriating $186,649,809.10 of 2022 General Obligation Bond funding to the New Durham School of Arts project (SH299) bringing the total project budget to $241,070,536. This additional funding provides full project funding Durham Public Schools to secure all construction related contracts and ensuring timely completion of the new school.
While the entire project budget will be available with this capital project amendment, it will take Durham Public Schools several years to spend down available funding. In the supplemental documentation a cash flow projection provides the expected timing of actual project related spending. Durham County will take on the debt payments related to the 2022 GO Bonds spent within this project over time, and has planned for this spending within its own capital financing plan. To date $54,420,726.90 has been allocated towards this project, with the majority being from 2022 General Obligation Bonds.
The new Durham School of the Arts (DSA), located off Duke Homestead Rd. and Stadium Dr., will be a state-of-the-art campus spanning 337,500 Gross Square Feet (GSF). Designed to accommodate 2,000 students in grades 6-12, the school will feature an impressive 800-seat concert hall and a 500-seat theatre for performances. The campus will be organized around a central courtyard, with two stories of classrooms to foster a collaborative learning environment. In addition to its academic facilities, DSA will offer a range of athletic amenities, including softball and baseball fields, a football field, and a track. This dynamic, purpose-built space will support both academic excellence and artistic expression, providing students with the resources they need to thrive in a well-rounded educational setting.
As of early March 2025, the project is 6% complete with a scheduled completion date of October 2027, and estimated move in date of December 2027.
|
Project |
Current Budget |
Amendment |
Revised Budget |
|
|
Durham School of Arts - New Location (SH299) |
$54,420,726.90 |
$186,649,809.10 |
$241,070,536.00 |
|
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This item aligns with Durham County Strategic Goal: Empowered Community, Empowering the Community to enhance their opportunities to thrive.
Resource Persons: Lori Blake-Reid, Executive Director of Construction & Capital Planning; Micheal Lynch, Durham Public Schools Senior Executive Director of Building Services; Keith Lane, Durham County Director of Budget, and Management Services
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board of County Commissioners approve Capital Project No. 25CPA036 appropriating $186,649,809.10 of 2022 General Obligation Bond funding to the New Durham School of Arts project (SH299) bringing the total project budget to $241,070,536.