LaVenture Middle School is a pioneering project for the Mount Vernon School District, serving as its first-ever Progressive Design-Build endeavor. The district, in collaboration with Lydig and TCF, embarked on the ambitious task of expanding the existing site while school remained in session. The project encountered an unforeseen obstacle early on, as the initial design—based on community input—proposed a new classroom building on the school’s playfield. However, site investigations revealed that the playfield, originally constructed in 1970, qualified as a protected wetland. With no prior records of this designation, the city retroactively declared the field a protected area, prompting a complete redesign of the project. This unexpected discovery caused a months-long delay, as the new plans required approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, due to the wetland’s protected status. Despite this setback, the Design-Build model allowed the project to adapt without the need for costly re-bidding. Lydig, TCF and their subcontractors worked swiftly to reprice bids and repurpose materials already on-site, mitigating what would have been a 30-percent cost escalation. Through careful coordination and expert project management from Lydig’s team, the project was able to retain the original square footage on the existing site. As the project reaches completion, LaVenture Middle School stands as a symbol of resilience, sustainability, and academic advancement, overcoming significant challenges while preserving its environmentally sensitive surroundings.