Special to Florida Construction News
As growth continues across Fort Myers, local schools are investing in major upgrades to ensure campuses can support the next generation of students. At Cypress Lake High School and Cypress Lake Middle School, B&I Contractors is leading a connected series of projects that combine renovation, new construction, and infrastructure upgrades across both campuses.
At Cypress Lake High School, work is underway on a large-scale HVAC renovation that spans the entire 155,000 square foot campus. The project includes a full mechanical system replacement, from underground hydronic piping to major equipment such as chillers, air handling units, pumps, and cooling towers. With roughly 72,000 manhours and approximately 12,000 linear feet of underground piping, the scope reflects the complexity and scale of the work being performed.
A major milestone within the project is the construction of a new 7,900 square foot Central Energy Plant. Completed in under a year, the facility will serve as the central hub for chilled water production, improving efficiency and long-term system performance across the campus. Because the school remains active during construction, much of the work is carefully phased and scheduled around school breaks to minimize disruption.
“This project takes a high level of coordination and planning every day. Our focus is on delivering a system that performs reliably while keeping the school environment safe and operational throughout the entire process.”-Jeff Brooks, Project Manager
The high school work is directly tied to the Cypress Lake Middle School rebuild, where B&I is also delivering HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems as part of a full campus replacement. Once complete, the new Central Energy Plant at the high school will supply chilled water to the middle school, creating a connected and efficient system between the two campuses.
At the middle school, the HVAC scope includes installation of air handling units, fan coil units, split systems, ductwork, controls, and air distribution systems. Specialized systems such as kitchen refrigeration and stainless-steel exhaust are also being installed to support food service, locker rooms, and other key areas.
Plumbing work covers underground and above-ground systems, including sanitary, storm, domestic water, condensate, and gas infrastructure. Electrical work includes power distribution, lighting, fire alarm systems, structured cabling, access control, and technology infrastructure to support modern learning environments. Additional installations such as classroom clocks and athletic system connections help round out the campus build.
“Projects like this succeed because of teamwork across every trade. Everyone is working toward the same goal, which is delivering a safe, efficient, and high-quality learning environment for students and staff.”-Jeff Brooks, Project Manager
Together, these efforts represent a major investment in the future of education in Southwest Florida. Through careful planning, collaboration, and execution, B&I Contractors is helping deliver campuses that are built to perform today and support growth for years to come.
