Moss and the School District of Osceola County Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Harmony Middle School

Moss Construction and the School District of Osceola County, Fla., celebrated the groundbreaking of Harmony Middle School AA on Wednesday, March 28. Completion of the 170,000-square-foot facility is slated for opening in the August 2019 school year. From left: Dave Tolbert, Bob Moss, Ricky Booth, Debra Pace, Tim Weisheyer, Jay Wheeler and Fred Hawkins.

On March 28, Moss, a South Florida Chapter-AGC member, and the School District of Osceola County, Fla., celebrated the groundbreaking of Harmony Middle School AA. Completion of the 170,000-sq-ft facility is slated for opening in the August 2019 school year.

"Schools are an integral part of any community, and we are proud that the School District of Osceola County has entrusted our firm with the completion of this project," said John Bowden, senior vice president at Moss. "We know that Harmony Middle School AA, which will serve Harmony’s local youth, will have a positive impact in the community and will set a new benchmark in educational facilities for years to come."

Once completed, more than 1,400 students from sixth through eighth grade will attend the new educational facility, which is being built on approximately 33-acres and will be located at 3725 Arthur J. Gallagher, St. Cloud, Florida.

"The School District of Osceola County, Fla., is one of the fastest growing districts in the State," said Sherry Werner, project executive at Moss. "After Hurricane Maria affected Puerto Rico, their enrollment increased by 2000 students in 2017."

Designed by Schenkelshultz Architecture, the campus will include a two-story academic building that contains the administration offices, media center, kitchen, multi-purpose room and 1,408 student stations. The site is fully fenced with gates for access.

In addition, the school will also have a one-story, 800-seat gymnasium building, two retention ponds, a multi-purpose field with track, baseball field, basketball courts and protected wetlands.

"The planning and construction of our new middle school in Harmony plays a critical role in the combined efforts to promote and support our students, as well as to further positive economic growth in Osceola County," said School Board Chairman Ricky Booth. "The new school will be essential in providing our students with a modernized environment that will enhance their learning opportunity as we push for excellence in the classroom."

Moss (www.mosscm.com) is a national privately held construction firm providing innovative solutions resulting in award-winning projects. With regional offices across the United States, Moss focuses on construction management at-risk, design-build and public-private partnerships. The company’s diverse portfolio encompasses a wide range of sectors, including luxury high-rise residential, landmark mixed-use developments, hospitality, primary and higher education, justice and solar energy. Moss prides itself on a strong entrepreneurial culture that honors safety, quality, client engagement and employee development. Its employees consistently rank Moss as one of the best places to work.