Photo courtesy of: Karl Connolly
PK–12 Expertise

B&D plans and delivers 21st century public, charter, and independent schools that become the anchors of our communities.

Our leadership is represented in our innovative processes, our stakeholder engagement, our track record of creating opportunities for local and minority businesses, and our work on some of the most sustainable school projects in the nation.

“B&D recommended an effective new project delivery method, guided us through a complicated public approval process, and kept our project on schedule and on budget in the face of numerous hurdles.”

William E. Finn, Former Director of Facilities
Alexandria City (VA) Public Schools
Our Approach

We transform educational environments to achieve academic, social, and financial goals.

Developing a 30-year road map for school modernization work. Implementing a sustainability program across dozens of schools. Coordinating technical inspections. Ensuring economic inclusion goals.

These are just a few examples of how B&D partners with our clients. Our solutions reinvigorate the school building as a catalyst for learning and collaboration.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY

How do you define the right school project or program that meets market and financial realities while achieving strategic objectives?

  • Define the strategic framework. B&D sets decision-making criteria with a focus on educational and community objectives.
  • Ensure market responsiveness. We gain a thorough understanding of facility and market context to develop educational specifications, capital plans, and master facilities plans.
  • Maximize financial performance. Our understanding of project delivery and operations allows institutions to develop projects with less risk, more control, and more value.
  • Design an implementation and ownership plan. We represent our clients in determining advantageous partnerships, funding strategies, and project phasing.
IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY

How do you deliver the ideal school project or program without compromising budget, schedule, or quality?

  • Strengthen the client’s role as owner. Program, vision, and project organization are at the forefront when B&D oversees design and construction.
  • Engage stakeholders. Our communications approach always puts the community of students, parents, teachers, and administrators at the center of project development.
  • Manage risk and project control. B&D’s close monitoring of activities through preconstruction, construction, and turnover ensures programs run on time and on budget.
  • Navigate technical processes. We lead our clients through complicated processes such as procurement, regulatory approvals, permitting, and inspections.
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY

How do you maximize the value of existing school facilities and operations?

  • Prioritize investments. B&D’s strategic framework empowers schools to make decisions that best enhance operational performance.
  • Align funds and resources. Through research and analysis, we determine which operational assets require realignment.
  • Protect against potential risks. Our sustainable approach addresses factors such as a changing market dynamic or leadership transition.
  • Find the right partners. When solutions need the expertise of external partners, we lead a selection and negotiation process that maximizes the client’s interests.
LEADING THE WAY

K–12 P3 Advisory

B&D’s P3 advisory team leverages its proprietary decision-making methodologies to help K–12 districts plan, implement, and manage both land swap deals and large-scale construction and modernization projects.

K–12 P3s are relatively new in the US, with only a single large-scale project currently underway in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In addition to our role on that project, B&D’s team has worked on more than 100 higher ed P3 initiatives valued at $3.5B.

Read a Case Study →
LEADING THE WAY

Communications & Public Engagement

Our Communications & Public Engagement team’s purpose is to help clients unlock opportunities through the development of exceptional communications and engagement strategies and activities.

Brailsford & Dunlavey’s CPE team develops communications and public engagement strategies for clients across the nation who seek to achieve bold visions through the built environment. The team provides advisory services and functions as a communications and engagement shop within organizations, increasing clients’ ability to build a shared understanding of process and outcomes with the communities they serve. Our approach is comprised of five overarching goals: create understanding, generate awareness, involve stakeholders, develop ownership, and achieve advocacy.

Read More →

Have a question about your school or program?

Contact Us →
Photo courtesy of: Cox Graae and Spack Architects