Two Schools, One Purpose

Article by: Adan Carrillo - Project Manager

As a project manager, I’ve had the privilege this year to oversee two very similar and equally rewarding projects for the Clark County School District — the replacement of Garside Middle School and Woodbury Middle School in Las Vegas. Both projects shared nearly identical goals: to replace aging facilities on the same sites with modern, efficient, and inspiring environments for students and staff. But while the blueprints looked similar on paper, each project presented its own unique set of challenges and triumphs that made the experience memorable for everyone involved.

New Ground for the GladiatorS

At Garside Middle School, home of the Gladiators, the work began with the demolition of an existing baseball field and park to make room for the new building. The existing school continued operating nearby during construction, requiring careful coordination and communication at every step. Once complete, the new school — a 150,100-square-foot facility — would take the place of the original sports fields, while two brand-new soccer fields and a lighted softball field would be built where the old classrooms once stood.

The electrical scope at Garside was extensive, with over 128,000 linear feet of conduit and 327,000 feet of cabling installed to power the 4000-amp, 277/480-volt service. Our average crew size was around 14 electricians, peaking at 21 during the busiest phases. Despite the complexity of the schedule and the tight coordination required around active school operations, the team delivered dependable results through patience, planning, and collaboration.

Making Waves at Woodbury

Just across town, Woodbury Middle School, home of the Longhorns, followed a similar path. This 156,900-square-foot replacement school was constructed in the open field next to the existing facility. That meant daily coordination between the construction crews, school staff, and other trades to minimize disruptions to classes in session. The project shared many similarities with Garside in design and electrical systems — a 4000-amp, 277/480-volt service supported by 123,000 linear feet of conduit and more than 310,000 feet of cabling.

Our average crew at Woodbury was slightly larger, with 15 electricians on site and a peak of 26 during the most active stages. The project tested our ability to adapt to changing conditions: learning the owner’s expectations, working through material lead-time challenges, and navigating out-of-sequence schedules. Every obstacle presented an opportunity for our team to find creative solutions and maintain steady progress.

Across both projects, safety remained at the heart of everything we did. Together, the two jobs accounted for over 90,000 combined labor hours without a single recordable injury — a testament to the focus, preparation, and care that each member of the crew brought to the job every day.

Part of a lasting impression

Though each school now stands as its own distinct campus, there’s a shared pride that runs through both projects. Watching the lights turn on for the first time in these new facilities, knowing the students and staff will have a bright, safe place to learn for decades to come — that’s the kind of reward that sticks with you.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such skilled electricians and supportive partners. These projects were about more than just construction; they were about collaboration, trust, and building something lasting for the Las Vegas community.