Anyone involved in the world of construction knows K-12 projects are a unique art form in and of themselves, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. You’re not only building a structure that will define the community; you’re also creating a space where students can learn and thrive. At JE Dunn Construction, we’ve learned that successful K-12 construction requires more than just technical expertise. It requires a deep understanding of the particular challenges and priorities inherent in serving educational communities. Here are some essential lessons that have shaped our teams’ approach to school construction.
With K-12 projects, every decision should be made with this question in mind:
Will this create the best possible learning environment for the student?
Ultimately, the student is our client. Our teams have been charged with creating an engaging environment where students can learn, feel comfortable and supported, and build the foundation they need for a successful life. Operating with this mindset sharpens our focus and ensures collaboration across the board. While everyone may have their own specific role, the end goal is the same: creating spaces that enable learning and foster success.
For JE Dunn, safety isn’t just a priority — it’s at the forefront of our culture. Determining how best to protect not only our project team but also students and staff shapes the entire construction process. From scheduling to site logistics, our safety training empowers employees and trade partners to recognize hazards, report outcomes, and hold one another accountable.
We plan our work so it doesn’t disrupt the learning environment. Our work at Hesse K-8 is a great example. Building a new school while the existing structure remained occupied required careful coordination. We were performing work that was loud and potentially disruptive, including structural steel erection and masonry. We decided to observe silent hours during standardized testing to ensure our project didn’t compromise test results.
We aim to minimize disruption whenever possible. If you have kids in school, you know how stressful the drop-off and pick-up processes can be. We bear that in mind and do our best to avoid adding to that stress. We don’t allow deliveries during those periods, and we don’t allow our traffic to intermingle with parents, teachers, or students. In our current work at Evans High School, we’ve implemented 30+ detailed security phasing plans, including temporary corridors, and have coordinated closely with fire marshals and law enforcement to ensure student safety is never compromised.
Our goal is to ensure the safety of not only our project team but also anyone who may interact with our project site.
Every building plays an important role in its respective community, but schools hold a special place in people’s hearts. They serve as second homes for our children and a centerpiece for social gatherings and engagement with friends and family. We see the community as an extended member of our family, and it’s critical to be as transparent and involved as possible.
To achieve this, the JE Dunn team regularly attends hall and community meetings and provides weekly project updates, including photos. We’ve even created video tours when in-person visits aren’t a possibility.
It is not uncommon in school construction for members of your project team to have personal connections to the school that we’re improving. Whether they’re alumni, parents, or local community residents, we consistently experience a personal connection to our work. Our families live in the neighborhoods where we build. They work there; their kids go to school there. This makes these projects particularly special. One of our Atlanta-based superintendents was an alumnus of Evans High School, and upon learning we had been awarded the project, he picked up the phone and said, “I want to be on the team.”
When all is said and done, successful school projects aren’t just about technical expertise — they’re about aligning with the mission of education. JE Dunn is a community builder that puts family first, serving school districts with this same mission. This makes collaboration smoother and decision-making easier. It also makes it easy for us to follow one of our other core values: doing the right thing. With publicly funded projects, it’s critical to be fiscally responsible, hold people accountable, deliver on schedule, and be transparent about our costs. When we lead with integrity and shared purpose, we create projects the whole community can stand behind.
While K-12 construction has its fair share of complexities, it’s also incredibly meaningful and rewarding work. By focusing on students, committing to safety, and engaging openly with the community while adhering to our goal of doing the right thing, we’ve ensured every active campus project has been a success.
If your district is planning a construction project, JE Dunn would love to hear from you and learn more about how we can partner to create a space that best serves your students. Learn more at jedunn.com.
About David Vater
David Vater serves as a Senior Project Manager with JE Dunn Construction and holds a Construction Management degree from Georgia Southern University. After graduating in 2014, he began his career with JE Dunn and has remained a dedicated member of the team for more than a decade.
Originally from Atlanta, David now lives in Savannah and works from JE Dunn’s Savannah office, where he helps lead some of the region’s most impactful K–12 projects. His project portfolio includes Hesse K–8, Windsor Forest High School, Evans High School, Andrea B. Williams Elementary School, Jenkins High School, and Georgetown K–8.
David’s deep roots in Georgia, combined with his commitment to delivering high‑quality educational environments, continue to shape his contributions to the growth and success of communities across the Coastal region.
