Hedrick Brothers Construction Begins $-Value Unspecified Rebuild of Murray Middle School in Florida

Highlights

• Hedrick Brothers Construction broke ground on the Murray Middle School reconstruction and renovation project on October 27, 2026.
• The work addresses damage caused by an EF-1 tornado associated with Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
• Plans include new administration, media, classroom and specialized learning facilities, along with gym renovations and campus infrastructure upgrades.
• The project will proceed while the school remains operational, with construction areas separated from student spaces.
• The gym renovation is expected to finish by August 2027, with major new facilities scheduled for December 2027.

Reconstruction of storm-damaged educational facilities in Martin County, Florida, has entered a new phase with the start of a major campus redevelopment at Murray Middle School. The project is intended to restore buildings damaged by an EF-1 tornado while updating learning spaces and infrastructure to support students and staff.

Campus Reconstruction and New Learning Facilities

Hedrick Brothers Construction officially broke ground on October 27, 2026, at the school, located at 4400 SE Murray Street in Stuart. Serving as construction manager, the company is overseeing the replacement of damaged Buildings 9, 10 and 18, alongside new construction and renovations across the campus.

The plans include a new administration and media centre, modern classrooms and dedicated spaces for art, band, chorus and agricultural science. The existing gymnasium will also undergo renovation, while campus site improvements and an upgraded chiller plant will support building operations and climate control.

The redevelopment follows damage caused by an EF-1 tornado spawned by Hurricane Milton on October 9, 2024. The storm destroyed two campus buildings and severely damaged the roof of a third, affecting facilities used by the school's band, chorus and agricultural programmes.

Construction Schedule and Active-Campus Safety

Phase 1 demolition began in July 2026 with the removal of Buildings 10 and 18. The gymnasium renovation is scheduled for completion by August 2027. The new administration building, media centre and specialized classroom spaces are expected to be completed in December 2027.

Construction will take place while Murray Middle School remains open. Hedrick Brothers is maintaining separation between active construction zones and student areas to support safe campus operations during the work.

The October groundbreaking ceremony brought together Martin County School District representatives, school leadership, staff, students and the construction team.

Why It Matters for Educational Infrastructure

The Murray Middle School project combines disaster recovery with investment in updated educational infrastructure. Replacing damaged facilities while modernizing specialized learning spaces and campus systems can help restore school operations and provide improved environments for future academic and extracurricular programmes.

The project is funded through state support, insurance reimbursements and Martin County School District capital funds.

Source: Hedrick Brothers.