HHIHS Rebuild Updates

Board approves referendum project architecture firm for Hilton Head Island High School rebuild

BEAUFORT – The Beaufort County Board of Education has approved an architecture firm for a major referendum project. The Board approved Charleston-based Little Diversified Architectural Company to design Hilton Head Island High School’s rebuild.

The 2019 Referendum included funding for the design of the Hilton Head High School rebuild, with the construction portion of this project being part of a future referendum.

“This significant project is made possible by the voters,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “This substantial project will significantly modernize and enhance Hilton Head Island High School.”

As the largest single-story school structure within Beaufort County School District, the existing Hilton Head High School building was originally constructed in 1983 with multiple additions over the years.

As one of the largest projects in the district’s recent history, “The committee felt community involvement will be crucial to the success of the Hilton Head High School design process,” said Robert Oetting, the school district’s Chief Operations Officer. “We look forward to commencing the design work and engaging the community in the process.”

Architectural firms competed for the referendum work by submitting proposals. Finalists were interviewed, and their proposals were independently evaluated and scored by a review panel. Competing firms were scored based on numerous criteria that included such areas as past performance, personnel qualifications, demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and on budget, and related experience on similar projects.

The Citizen-Led Oversight Committee, an independent group of volunteers, is monitoring all referendum building projects, schedules, budgets, and expenditures. Quarterly reports from the CLOC are presented to the Beaufort County Board of Education. CLOC members include CPAs, urban planners, civil engineers, and project managers.