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Brickell School Will Let Teachers Live and Work Under One Roof

By Orgesta Tolaj

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4 December 2023

Brickell School

© dadeschools.net

What if you could get a job and housing together with it? In today’s economy, this might sound like a miracle that will never happen, however, Miami is trying to make it possible. Miami-Dade County is introducing a new possibility for teachers who need help with housing as well. They are currently working on the Brickell school project which will also combine the Brickell neighborhood. Here is what the project entails.

What Is the Brickell School Project?

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is working on a groundbreaking project in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami. They are aiming to set a precedent for future redevelopment initiatives. The project involves a collaboration between the county, public housing, community development, and the school district. The plan includes the expansion of grades 6-8 at Southside Preparatory Academy. Additionally, it includes the development of workforce housing on a designated property. Raul Perez, the chief facilities, design, and construction officer for the school district, describes it as a unique and innovative partnership.

What Is the Aim of Brickell School?

The multi-million dollar school expansion and housing project in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood aims to address three pressing issues simultaneously. Those are a shortage of teachers, the demand for additional school capacity, and the need for workforce housing. The project seeks to provide a comprehensive solution to these challenges.

© dadeschool.net

Raul Perez highlighted the impact of the school expansion on enrollment at Southside. Additionally, he emphasized the opening of additional seats for the entire school. Moreover, the transformation involves dedicating the middle school grades (6-8) to the current Southside Preparatory Academy campus. The repurposing of the former K-8 campus for elementary grades and addressing a critical expansion need for families in the area are also included.

What Will the School Be Like?

Perez also provided insights into the innovative design of the facility. This includes collaborative student spaces resembling a coffee shop atmosphere. Furthermore, these were introduced initially in high schools and now extended to middle schools. The seven-story building features classrooms with abundant natural light and impressive views. This showcases a distinctive “lantern” corner window architecture visible from I-95.

© dadeschool.net

Notably, the rooftop serves as the PE area, a district first, offering facilities like a basketball court, weight room, dance room, lockers, and a running track. This represents a departure from the typical one to three-story school structures. Additionally marking the first time the district has built a school in an urban setting that necessitates vertical construction.

What About the Living Area?

The residential component of the project comprises one-bedroom apartments of approximately 600 square feet located on the second and third floors, with the school situated above. These residential units and the school have separate entrances.

Brickell school
© dadeschool.net

In response to a question from Christina Vazquez, Raul Perez confirmed that the concept is to provide housing for individuals who work for the district. The initiative is part of a strategy for recruiting and retaining employees, particularly teachers. Given the nationwide teacher shortage and the high cost of living in South Florida’s real estate rental market, the project aims to offer a unique opportunity for district employees, especially new hires, to access these housing units and facilitate a smoother start in their careers.

What Are the Future Plans for Brickell School?

Miami-Dade County Public Schools has future plans for the redevelopment of Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, located at the border of Overtown and Wynwood. The project includes the construction of workforce housing, larger in scale than the current initiative in Brickell, along with a brand new redeveloped school. The district, being the largest landowner in the county, aims to replicate this model in collaboration with other municipalities through public-public and public-private partnerships.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins emphasized the importance of the collaboration with Miami-Dade Public Schools, recognizing it nationally as an innovative approach to address multiple community needs comprehensively. The Brickell project, situated in a growing neighborhood with insufficient school seats, tackles issues of teacher housing, affordable housing, and workforce housing using a single county-owned property. The location’s proximity to Metrorail and Metromover is highlighted as a cost-saving benefit for families without the need for car ownership.

Would you be willing to live and work at Brickell under the same roof?

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Orgesta Tolaj

Your favorite introvert who is buzzing around the Hive like a busy bee!

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