K-12 EDUCATION
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
DESIGN BUILD
GENERAL CONTRACTING
Shady Side Academy
McIlroy Center for Science and Innovation
PJ Dick understands the needs of K-12 education and works with you to accomplish your vision.
2 PJ DICK
A BETTER BUILDING EXPERIENCE
To remain competitive, K-12 institutions are investing in campus improvements to enhance the student experience. Entrust your project to a contractor who will build safely, protect your budget, and require quality standards be met during each project phase.
As one of the country’s top ranked contractors that has managed over $12 billion in construction activity in the region, PJ Dick has successfully
partnered with institutions of higher education across the Mid-Atlantic region. With offices in Pittsburgh, State College, and Philadelphia, we are able to serve institutions across the Commonwealth.
Whether you’re looking to refresh your existing facilities or build new ones, PJ Dick will provide you with best-in-class services to achieve your project’s vision.
Founded in 1979
Family Owned
ENR Top 100 Contractor
80% of work from repeat clients
KEYS TO SUCCESS
For over 45 years, we have partnered with K-12 institutions to optimize project outcomes. PJ Dick’s proven processes foster collaboration and keep all stakeholders focused on achieving project goals.
A SAFE SITE
Our award-winning MY SAFETY program educates and empowers employees and trade partners to protect workers, trade partners, and campus occupants during construction.
QUALITY
INSTALLATION
PJ Dick implements a systematic plan for quality assurance and quality control. When a project warrants this plan, PJ Dick utilizes a system based on the Army Corps of Engineers program, featuring three phases of control that is scalable based upon the project requirements. The program makes all team members more accountable throughout a project’s life-cycle — from the design team to our trade partners.
ACCURATE ESTIMATING
PJ Dick’s 14-person team provides traditional estimating as well as Target Value Delivery services. Comprised of staff skilled in architectural, engineering, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, we work with the design team to verify the project meets project goals, is constructible, and meets the college’s or university’s budget.
STREAMLINED CONSTRUCTION
Our team of managers and craftspeople are very “hands on” and dive into every detail of a project. Our staff considers itself an extension of your organization and strives to optimize the project outcome in your best interest, every time. All of our efforts are focused on delivering a quality project, on time and within budget. We actively flush out risks and mitigate them early, before they can have a negative impact on the project. We strive to minimize change orders by properly scoping, descoping, scheduling, and coordinating the work.
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 100 Green Contractors, PJ Dick has built or is building 100+ LEED projects, including one Living Building Challenge project. Regardless of project complexity or type, PJ Dick will work with the design team, trade partners, and suppliers to verify all construction is built to the required specifications and will ensure that the owner gets the best value for the money — most points for lowest investment.
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
PJ Dick uses technology to enhance estimating, preplanning, construction management, and stakeholder engagement. Examples include:
• BIM 360: Clash detection; real-time data access
• Oculus: Verify room layout before building
• LiDAR: Laser scanning to verify as-built drawings
• HoloBuilder: Documentation of existing conditions
WHAT WE DO
Capital projects are major investments, and PJ Dick works on your behalf to protect your budget and schedule throughout the project’s life-cycle.
As schools evolve to reflect innovations in technology and student life, K-12 institutions turn to PJ Dick to help plan and build adaptable facilities.
Our portfolio encompasses all facets of campus life — classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, innovation HUBS, laboratories, and more.
We can do it all.
Academic Buildings
University Housing Libraries
Sports / Public Venues
University of Pittsburgh
PJ DICK
Falk Labratory School
AIM ACADEMY GLOBAL INNOVATION HUB
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA
Global Innovation Hub
$9 million | 17,000-sf addition
PJ Dick provided CM at risk services for a 17,000-sf, two-story classroom and lab addition.
The project took place on an active school campus and requires extensive logistics planning. All deliveries were scheduled, and gates were manned for any construction traffic to pass through. No deliveries were allowed during school drop-off and pick-up times. Because of the location of our construction entrance, a double gate system, was added to allow students to safely cross between the classroom building and gym. We also had to create a temporary emergency egress for building occupants.
Work was coordinated around the school event calendar and MEP tie-in work took place over school holidays.
The project utilized RACP funding.
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY
MCILROY
CENTER FOR SCIENCE & INNOVATION
PITTSBURGH, PA
McIlroy Center
$11 million | 25,000-sf construction; 5,000-sf renovation
PJ Dick provided CM at Risk services for the renovation of 5,000-sf of Memorial Hall for classrooms, labs, and a greenhouse and new construction of a new, twostory, 24,361-sf building for the middle school.
The project included classrooms and labs for introductory physics courses and chemistry, a flexible multipurpose room, a science faculty office, classrooms and labs for biology and science, a special project room for independent research, lab prep/storage facilities, and a collaboration lounge.
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL
PITTSBURGH, PA
Shady Side Academy Middle School
$22.5 million | 49,000 sf
PJ Dick is providing CM at risk services for the demolition of existing two buildings with asbestos abatement and construction of a new 49,335-sf, two-story middle school with associated sitework and landscaping.
To be completed December 2025.
CATALYST ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
PITTSBURGH, PA
Catalyst Academy Charter School
$2 million |16,000 sf
PJ Dick provided CM at Risk services for interior renovations to the existing Lemington School, including renovation/modernization of the first floor into a new elementary grades charter school.
Work was completed during summer recess and included replacement of the fire alarm system in the entire building as well as new MEP systems. Components of work also included new classrooms, rest facilities, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium.
The space was designed using Passive Home ingenuity.
ST. EDMUND’S ACADEMY CENTER FOR INTEGRATED DISCOVERY
PITTSBURGH, PA
Center for Integrated Discovery
$4.6 million | 7,680 sf
PJ Dick managed construction for the Center for Integrated Discovery, a 7,680-sf expansion that houses new classrooms for physical education, visual and performing arts, and engineering and design.
In addition, PJ Dick managed renovations to the school’s gymnasium and a student collaboration lounge called the Wolf Den that inspires project work and sits adjacent to the hub of our Signature Experience Program and our Digital Media Lab.
THE WATSON INSTITUTE
PITTSBURGH, PA
The Watson Institute
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The Watson Institute is one of the region’s premiere resources for children with special needs. The organization offers special education schools for children with special needs ages three to 21. Since 2010, PJ Dick has provided construction services to The Watson Institute on seven projects totaling more than $40 million. Projects included:
• Main Campus Expansion, Sewickley, PA, $10 million: General contractor services for the 33,600-sf renovation of existing building space on three floors of the facility as well as a 4,800-sf addition. Work included site improvements, including the removal of several outbuildings and construction of a 2,875-sf free-standing maintenance garage.
• New Education Center, Bridgeville, PA, $17 million: CM at risk services for a new 43,000-sf school building that features sensory areas, a gymnasium, specialty classrooms, fitness areas, computer laboratories, a library, a music room, an industrial kitchen, and spaces for staff and administration.
• Friendship Academy, Shadyside, PA, $10 million: CM at risk services for the 50,000-sf three-story educational facility, which includes spaces for academics, music, art, science, athletics, professional development and training, clinical support, and a cafeteria.
FALK LABORATORY SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH, PA
Falk Laboratory School
$18 million |38,000-sf addition; 25,000-sf renovation
PJ Dick provided construction management at risk services for an addition and renovation for a private K-8 laboratory school.
The project included a 38,000 sf addition for classrooms, a gymnasium and library along with a 25,000 sf of renovations to existing classrooms, gymnasium and administration places.
It provided modern instructional space and increased the school’s capacity from 275 students to 440.
