Ocean Springs Highschool

Project Overview

High school students in Ocean Springs, MS started the 2012-2013 school year in a new, state-of-the-art facility. The 2-story high school accommodates 2,200 students, encompasses 320,000 square feet and includes an impressive 964’x169’ courtyard where students can mingle. Acting as general contractor, White-Spunner Construction completed the school in just two years’ time. The facility boasts 200 classrooms, a vocational-technical department, a 750-seat performance auditorium, a library, media center and two gymnasiums. The structure and its roof are rated for a 140-mph wind zone for hurricanes, and its windows, brick, cornices and columns are impact resistant. This project was not without its challenges as the school’s location on the site of an old pecan orchard with poor soils necessitated the use of site preparation methods which involved more time. Methods included pre-loading the building pad with soil to consolidate the subsoil, then utilizing drainage wicks to remove moisture.