AWC Receives an ABC Excellence in Construction Award for Bishop Kenny High School’s All Sports Training Center
Auld & White Constructors was honored to receive two awards at the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Florida First Coast Chapter Excellence in Construction awards on Friday, August 22, 2025. Over 500 members and clients of the Northeast Florida building community gathered at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront for the annual awards dinner.
Bishop Kenny High School All Sports Training Center, Jacksonville, FL
Eagle and Project of the Year Award Winner
The new Betty & Jack Demetree Family Athletic Training Center marks a transformative addition to Bishop Kenny High School’s riverfront campus. This facility combines strength training, athletic therapy, and multi-purpose coaching spaces into one cohesive building that honors the school’s long-standing athletic legacy. Built on a constrained site in an active campus, the project required creative design and construction execution without interrupting student life. This high-profile investment in student-athletes not only supports current programs but also ensures Bishop Kenny’s facilities match the excellence of its competitive reputation. Delivered on time and within budget, the result is a state-of-the-art collegiate-level training environment built on trust, collaboration, and strategic foresight.
Architect: kasper architects + associates
Civil Engineer: England-Thims & Miller, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Keister Webb Structural Engineers, LLC
MEP Engineer: Powell & Hinkle Engineering, P.A.
Photography: GDH Architectural Photography
UNDERSTANDING THE PROJECT
Located near the St. Johns River and surrounded by classrooms and sports fields, the facility was constructed within a highly active high school campus. The two-story project included the construction of weight rooms, therapy areas, locker spaces, offices, and a training center with a robust mechanical and structural core. The scope required pile-supported foundations, extensive utility coordination, and specialized finishes to meet the performance demands of Bishop Kenny’s athletic program. It also included reconfiguring site access and campus infrastructure to maintain daily student operations. Strategic design modifications and fast-track sequencing were used to ensure both project feasibility and long-term value for the school community.
PROJECT CHALLENGES
Working with Bishop Kenny High School on their facility was both a challenging and rewarding experience. This project presented unique obstacles that demanded innovative solutions and strategic planning, all of which showcased AWC’s commitment to excellence and safety. Below, we will highlight the most significant challenges among the numerous that were resolved.
Challenge #1 – High Water Table and Unstable Soils
In the late 1700s, the current BKHS campus was home to Fort Nicholas. During World War II, the site operated as a shipyard with a water opening for ships to dock, which is illustrated in the historical photo below. Over the past 70 years, the northern area of the campus was filled with a mix of available materials as it expanded toward the St. Johns River. This history created subsurface conditions that posed significant challenges for construction.
Excavation for the new facility revealed that the footing elevation was just one foot above the water table, leading to immediate flooding and exposing buried debris and unknown utilities. These were conditions that could have stalled or derailed early sitework. The team acted quickly, installing a full dewatering system with well points and pumps to keep excavation zones dry. Ground penetrating radar and third party utility locators were brought in to identify potential conflicts, while surgical excavation techniques were used to carefully remove embedded debris without damaging existing systems. In total, 54 truckloads of unsuitable material were removed to ensure safe and stable building conditions.
Further compounding the challenge, the original elevator pit design required excavation below the water table, something that was no longer feasible under the discovered conditions. AWC worked closely with the structural engineer to redesign the elevator shaft, reducing its overall depth and increasing the rebar density. This allowed for a thinner, stronger pile cap that met all code and structural requirements without additional permitting. A structural stone base was installed beneath the pit to enhance long term drainage and provide foundational support. Despite the complex and evolving subsurface conditions, these proactive design and construction solutions maintained both the safety and functionality of the elevator, allowing vertical circulation to remain in the project scope and stay on schedule.
To ensure long term structural integrity of the building, 142 auger pressure grouted piles were drilled to a depth of 35 feet, anchoring the foundation securely to bedrock. These coordinated efforts enabled uninterrupted foundation progress and laid the groundwork, both literally and figuratively, for a successful build.
Challenge #2 – Working on an Active Campus with Limited Access
Construction took place within the compact, active high school campus surrounded by classrooms, locker rooms, and athletic facilities. To maintain safety and avoid disrupting daily school operations, the team implemented a carefully phased approach aligned with the academic calendar. Temporary walkways, fencing, and signage were used to reroute students and staff around the jobsite.
Deliveries were limited to off peak hours and between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM to avoid class changes and car line traffic. Compact equipment was scheduled to navigate two narrow access corridors leading into the site. Additionally, temporary utility reroutes maintained service to nearby buildings and stadium lighting infrastructure. Power and lighting systems were disconnected and reconnected multiple times without affecting campus activity. AWC worked closely with school leadership to coordinate around events and testing. Despite the logistical complexity, all academic and extracurricular functions continued safely and on schedule throughout construction.
Challenge #3 – Over Budget, So We Got Creative
With a project of this importance and a design shaped by the creative vision of the school and its donors, delivering both impact and value was essential. When early estimates showed the original design exceeded available funding, AWC, kasper architects + associates, and the owner met to explore targeted design adjustments that could lower costs without compromising quality. The solution decided on was to reduce the overall building height by 16 inches, a change that preserved functionality while streamlining material needs, saving over $200,000.
This revision allowed for a more efficient structural system with reduced framing, sheathing, and exterior finish requirements. The design team ensured all programmatic needs remained intact, maintaining the building’s intended use and performance.
The result was a cost-effective adjustment that brought the project back in line with available funding and created room in the budget for enhanced interior finishes, adding long-term value without adding cost.
Auld & White Constructors is hiring! We continue to excel in our industry by hiring talented and dedicated professionals who focus on the individual needs of our clients. To learn more about the opportunities available, click here now >> Careers at AWC <<.
Auld & White Constructors (AWC) is one of Northeast Florida’s leading construction firms. Headquartered in Jacksonville for nearly 40 years, AWC has built long-standing relationships by providing open communication, innovative ideas, and diverse construction solutions. With significant expertise in the commercial, healthcare, and public sectors, AWC helps our clients bridge the gap between dream and reality. As we continue to grow, AWC maintains a locally-focused philosophy to allow all of our employees to be at home at night. This is integral to AWC’s strong company culture and the foundation of its connected/collaborative team.