The Detroit Public Schools (DPS) system has undertaken one of the nation’s largest capital improvement programs—and the largest of its kind in Michigan history. The program entails renovating and building 263 schools in three years. As a key member of the program management team, DMJM is acting as an extension of the DPS staff to facilitate, control, and manage all aspects of the program. Working with the PM team, DMJM is building 14 new state-of-the-art schools. The firm is also responsible for coordinating planning, budgeting, community outreach, and rapid problem-solving. By the fall of 2001, four new elementary schools had opened—the first new schools in Detroit in 20 years.
Since schools can serve as the center of Detroit’s neighborhoods, their reestablishment is extremely important to the restoration of growth and stability to this large city. With that goal in mind, DMJM has ensured that Detroit’s schools are uniquely designed to function as learning facilities during the day and community centers during evenings and weekends. In the process, DMJM has helped to enhance local economies: 74 percent of program contracts have been awarded to Detroit-based businesses, and 50 percent of those contracts were awarded to minority-owned businesses.
An additional innovation was the implementation of a secure, Web-accessible project site and document control system that enables communication among the 263 school projects. The electronic system enhances productivity and cost savings through on-line document management, tracking, and accountability. |
