April 21, 2022
Golden Valley, Minn., April 21, 2022 ─ RJM Construction has been awarded construction manager duties for Saint Paul Public Schools’ (SPPS) new Bruce Vento Elementary School and adjoining early childhood education and community center hub.
The project is currently in the design stage with Minneapolis-based Cuningham as the architect partner. In early 2024, RJM Construction will begin building the approximately 140,000 square foot elementary school, pre-K, and community hub in Saint Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood.
Site work, including an outdoor play space, parking, pedestrian walkways and storm water management is also included in RJM’s scope of work. SPPS and its project partners are currently setting sustainability goals for the project that will align with the district’s overarching goals and stewardship.
“We’re honored to be chosen to lead this project for Saint Paul Public Schools that will bring a state-of-the-art elementary school to Saint Paul’s Eastside community to provide one integrated facility that meets the district’s education, health and safety goals,” said Brad Barickman, vice president of RJM Construction. “We take pride in our portfolio of community-based projects and look forward to applying our expertise for this Saint Paul community.”
The project includes rebuilding a new multi-level elementary school building just east of the current school on the same property that will be demolished once the new school is completed. The school will be designed to accommodate up to 800 K-5 students. The early learning hub and community center housed at the site will provide the Eastside with a one-stop-shop for Saint Paul’s youngest learners and families while meeting other needs of the broader community. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2025 and is one of nearly 90 SPPS projects included in the district’s five-year facilities maintenance and capital implementation plan.
“Saint Paul Public Schools is excited to be able to bring transformational learning space to the Bruce Vento and broader Payne-Phalen neighborhood” said Tom Parent, facilities director at SPPS. “We are really looking forward to working closely with the school community to make the most of this generational investment.”
About RJM Construction
With headquarters in the Twin Cities, RJM Construction LLC is a general contractor established in 1997 and has more than 150 specialized staff members and an annual construction volume of $256 million. RJM Construction specializes in community, healthcare, corporate, and multifamily projects serving clients throughout Minnesota and neighboring states. Our expertise includes general contracting, construction management, design-build and preconstruction services.
About SPPS
At Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS), our mission is both bold and simple: to inspire students to think critically, pursue their dreams and change the world. SPPS is one of Minnesota’s largest school districts serving more than 32,000 students. Highly-trained and deeply-dedicated staff, cutting-edge academic programs, and strong community support are among the district’s hallmarks. SPPS is proud of its diverse students who speak more than 125 languages and share their ideas and cultures with their classmates and teachers every day.