Stellar Announces Completion of The Bolles School Center for Innovation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (September 18, 2024) — Stellar, an architecture, engineering, construction and mechanical services firm, has completed the construction of The Frank R. Sanchez & Hope and Dana E. Fender Center for Innovation, a multi-use educational building on The Bolles School’s San Jose campus in Jacksonville, Florida.

The three-story center will house Bolles’ science, math and technology programs. State-of-the-art specialty science labs include an Anatomage table, a virtual dissection table used by medical schools around the world. The center will also have areas for advanced robotics, computer programming, IT, engineering and design courses. In addition, classrooms and collaboration spaces can be configured into different sizes to encourage discussion and creativity. 

Throughout the entire $25 million construction project, which began in June 2022, Stellar coordinated closely with Bolles to ensure the work would not disrupt classes and activities on the busy campus, even through the summer. “Bolles serves pre-K through 12th grade students, and we know their education and summer activities are important. In fact, the campus is even busier during the summer,” said Tim Jenkins, senior vice president of Stellar's Commercial Division. “Working on an active riverfront site with frequent student drop-off and pickup presented challenges, but our experience coordinating logistics on other campus projects helped us maintain consistency and safety for students while getting our job done.”

Early in the project, Stellar’s team ensured the future stability of the 47,000-square-foot center by driving 200 piles into the ground, 80 feet deep. The building overlooks the St. Johns River, with an abundance of windows and glass walls to take advantage of the view. The center also features high-end finishes and wooden ceilings. “Stellar was privileged to work alongside award-winning design firm Zyscovich to deliver this project,” said Jenkins. “The collaboration between our firms throughout design and preconstruction made the venture successful.”

In addition to housing the school's science, math and technology programs, the center may host special events, such as fundraisers or graduations. The Bolles Center for Innovation opened to students when the school year began on August 14.