A New Kind of Campus: M-DCPS Unveils Unique K-8 School and Workforce Housing Facility

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday in the Brickell area to unveil Southside Preparatory Academy’s innovative new seven-story building, located on county-owned land. The facility now houses middle school grades and includes workforce housing for District employees.

“This is a facility that not only incorporates education but also addresses the much-needed residential housing deficiency that we have in Miami-Dade County,” said Chief Officer of Facilities Design and Construction Raul Perez. “It allows school District employees to rent out these units so they can live, work, and play all in the same location.”

This General Obligation Bond (GOB) project is a unique collaboration between Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami-Dade County and is valued at approximately $35 million. 

The new construction project includes 610 student stations, general and ESE classrooms, two computer labs, two science labs, science demonstration classrooms, and art and music labs. There are also administration offices, a teacher’s lounge, a media center, a kitchen, and a dining room. 

The top floor has a multi-purpose 7,000 sq. ft. rooftop basketball court and PE area, plus a dance floor and a multi-purpose room with gym equipment, as well as boys’ and girls’ locker rooms.

The inside of the new middle school building at South Preparatory Academy

 “This facility is one of a kind. We are very excited to have two science labs as well as science demonstration classrooms. This building is set up for students to work in subject-specific classrooms,” said Southside Preparatory Academy Principal Linette Tellez. “We have computer labs where students can be innovative and go beyond your typical classroom setting.”

Tellez said that the art room is equipped with a kiln and six pottery spaces where students can create their own pottery. The music rooms are set up so ensembles can practice their pieces, and the dance room has plenty of space for students to perform the dance moves that previously had to be done outside.  She said that the rooftop basketball court also doubles as a track, so students can practice track and field.

“It’s so much of an improvement from the old building, the classroom, the colors. It’s very vibrant,” said eighth grader Alexander Curkoski. “I like the biology lab here. The class is very interactive and hands-on.”

Terms of the long-term lease between the District and the County include 10 workforce housing residential units in the new building. The partnership with Miami-Dade County’s Department of Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) will give preference to qualifying teachers and District employees. 

The bathroom and kitchen areas in the new housing units at the new middle school building.

The housing units, located on the second and third floors, have separate entrances and exits, as well as a residential lobby. Related Urban Development Group, a real estate company, joined the construction project to make this a public-private partnership.

Designed by the architectural firm Zyscovich, the new building allows educators to live and work all under one roof. This innovative approach addresses the pressing issue of affordable housing for teachers in Miami, providing them with convenient living arrangements and strengthening the school community.

The original Southside Elementary School campus, located at 45 SW 13th Street in Miami, is among five Miami-Dade public schools listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and the second-oldest school building in Miami-Dade County. Converted to a K-8 facility in 2019, the school was renamed Southside Preparatory Academy.

 

The school bond projects resulted from voter approval of the $1.2 billion General Obligation Bond. The bond is being used to modernize and construct school buildings throughout the District, expand student capacity, enhance facility safety, and provide technology upgrades at all schools. 

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TOP CAPTION:  The new middle school building at South Preparatory Academy has residential workforce housing for educators.