Good News is Worth Sharing

September 8, 2025

CHARLOTTE & RALEIGH, N.C. – As students, educators and staff return to classrooms for the Fall 2025 school year, Balfour Beatty announces the completions of several transformative K-12 educational projects, from new elementary schools to arts-focused magnet campuses, in Johnston, Wake and Mecklenburg counties. With the completion of these projects, communities throughout Charlotte and the Triangle area can now benefit from updated educational facilities that enhance local school district operations and offer students safe, inspiring and future-ready environments for learning.

In Smithfield, North Carolina, Balfour Beatty has completed construction on Johnston County Public School’s (JCPS) $40 million Swift Creek Elementary School project. Delivered under budget, the project includes a newly constructed two-story facility that replaces the school’s existing mobile classroom units, reducing class sizes and improving campus safety. The school serves approximately 900 students and includes dedicated classroom wings for pre-K through fifth grade, a cafeteria with stage, gymnasium and media center—all designed to foster learning and community connection. 

In partnership with Wake County Public School System (WCPSS), Balfour Beatty delivered the 133,000-square-foot Rex Road Elementary School campus that accommodates 800 students from kindergarten to fifth grade in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The new facility features classroom space, learning commons, cafeteria, gymnasium and media center.

Additionally, the project team installed essential infrastructure including a waterline extension to the site and associated pump station. Site improvements also include multiple playfields, parking lots, greenway paths and exterior learning areas.

As part of the two-phase, five building campus modernization at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Northwest School of the Arts, Balfour Beatty has completed the project’s initial phase which comprised of installing a new underground stormwater detention system and utility connections, and a reconstruction of the main parking lot to facilitate future campus growth.

Phase two is currently underway and features the construction of a 7,400-square-foot visual arts and academic building. This facility will house an administration suite, student services and guidance center, media center, six science classrooms, six art studios and sixteen general education classrooms. Further enhancements include acoustic upgrades within the auditorium, interior reconfigurations for high school CTE programming and comprehensive interior renovations to transform existing facilities into middle school learning spaces.

Upgrades to the performing arts building including the installation of sprinklers, HVAC system repairs and updated finishes will also be delivered along with modifying the gymnasium to accommodate two new health classrooms and renovations to the cafeteria to include acoustic improvements and an Adobe classroom. Lastly, Buildings B and D will be demolished to create space for more efficient and adaptable learning areas. All renovations are scheduled for completion in 2027.

“As the back-to-school season kicks off, our teammates are proud to provide the facilities that support learning, creativity and community,” said Jeff Sandeen, Balfour Beatty president in the Carolinas. “These projects reflect Balfour Beatty’s commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for students, educators and families across the Carolinas. We are honored to support our local school systems in transforming the academic experiences for so many individuals and committed to continuing our essential work in providing modernized learning spaces for future generations in the area.”

Balfour Beatty is also currently working on projects at Durham Public Schools’ School of the Arts and WCPSS’ Athens Drive Magnet High School, Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies (WECIB) High School/Paramount Middle School and Ligon Road Middle School. Additionally, the company was recently selected to deliver Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ Ashley Elementary School project.