When Jordan Short started working with Fairfax County Public Schools in 2021, he noticed Armstrong Elementary School was in the queue to be renovated.
Short grew up near and attended the Reston, Virginia, school, but at that point, the project was in the design phase. He wasn鈥檛 assigned to the project, because at the time, he was a construction manager. That meant he focused on any of the other projects that were in construction.
But now, with construction ongoing, Short has been overseeing the renovation of the familiar campus. And because two of his sons are current students there, they are among the kids who could expect to benefit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really full circle moment,鈥� Short said. 鈥淚鈥檝e probably said that a million times now, but it鈥檚 the only best way to say it. You get to come here, get the education, and then give back in that sort of sense. It鈥檚 just been a delight, very proud as well.鈥�
Short鈥檚 father worked for Turner Construction for over four decades, and it鈥檚 the reason his family relocated from San Antonio, Texas, to Northern Virginia in 1990. His brother also works in construction, which Short described as 鈥渒ind of in our genes.鈥�
What鈥檚 left of the existing Armstrong Elementary School building is largely familiar to him. But as the project progresses and new parts get built, workers have to follow “strict guidelines” for how classrooms are laid out and what size they are.
鈥淲here we can get creative is with our finishes in the spaces, and making them feel maybe different than some of the other schools,鈥� Short said. 鈥淗aving a whole new library wing will be something that people will be like, 鈥榃ow, this is something great, new and exciting.鈥欌��
The typical elementary school renovation takes 28 to 30 months, Short said, often extending through three summers. The Armstrong work is scheduled to be finished by the summer of 2027.
In the meantime, Principal James Quinn said students get excited when they hear drills during lunchtime outside. As they鈥檙e playing on the blacktop or playground, they can watch construction of the new library. They can monitor progress on walls and steel structures from recess.
Quinn said the project is the first renovation he has been part of as a school administrator.
鈥淪o I was definitely nervous at the start. Was definitely more relaxed when I found out Jordan was going 鈥� to be the project manager. Just being a parent here, and I know his involvement in our school already, so that made me be put at ease,” he said.
Whether it鈥檚 painting or rearranging walls, Short described school renovations as a tedious process that requires workers to make sure they address 鈥渆very inch of the building.鈥�
While he鈥檚 motivated by the fact he鈥檚 overseeing work on his own children鈥檚 school, Short said he brings the same passion and energy to every project.
鈥淣ot a lot of times are you going to get a project that you went to school, and then got to help renovate at the back end of it, but then your kids are also getting the fruits of that labor as well,鈥� Short said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of pride in that sense.鈥�
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