TOWSON, MARYLAND (February 23, 2009) - Montgomery County Public Schools approved a contract for Oak Contracting to provide construction management services for the Seven Locks Elementary School replacement in Bethesda, MD. The purpose of this project is to modernize Seven Locks Elementary School and to provide program spaces for kindergarten and grades 1 through 5 when the school is completed in January 2012. Based on the condition of the existing school and the cost to bring it into compliance with the current code requirements and to met the educational specifications required, the most cost-effective modernization option is to demolish the existing single-story building and construct a partial two-story replacement building on the same site.

The replacement building is being designed by WMCRP Architects for an initial capacity of 410 students with a master-planned (core) capacity for 640 students. The replacement building will accommodate 19 classrooms with future expansion of ten additional classrooms to bring the school to its core capacity of 640 students. The additional capacity will provide relief to overcrowding at Potomac Elementary School.

The new steel-framed structure with textured and patterned masonry exterior facades will incorporate outdoor courtyards to provide natural day lighting for the surrounding interior spaces. The project will be registered and certified for Silver or higher rating in conformance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the United States Green Building Council.

Founded in 1971, Towson-based Oak Contracting is a regional construction management firm specialized in new construction and renovation projects for the K-12 and medical research sectors. The firm's expertise also spans higher education, non-profit, and commercial projects ranging from $1 million to $100 million in value. The firm recorded revenues of $83.8 million during calendar year 2007.