Barking Waters Head Start
Child Care Facility Construction in Wewoka OK
Barking Waters Head Start delivered a critical expansion of early childhood education for the Seminole Nation. This ARPA-funded project involved the complex adaptive reuse of a former bowling alley housed in an abandoned pre-engineered metal building, transforming it into a modern, permanent learning center.
The project replaced aging temporary trailers that had been in use for nearly 25 years. Stronghold Construction managed the conversion, addressing significant environmental and structural challenges to provide a safe, high-capacity environment for Wewoka’s youngest residents.
Project Overview
Early Childhood Education Adaptive Reuse
Repurposing a former bowling alley required a complete overhaul of the building envelope and interior systems. The new facility provides expanded classroom capacity, dedicated administrative space, and integrated safety features tailored for early childhood development.
Stronghold leveraged a CM/GC delivery model to navigate the transition from a vacant shell to a purpose-built learning center. The completed project increases enrollment capacity and gives the Seminole Nation’s education department a permanent home in Wewoka. It is one of five projects Stronghold delivered under the Nation’s ARPA capital program, alongside the Seminole Nation Pool Annex.
Project Details
CM/GC Educational Facility Redevelopment
Client: Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Location: Wewoka, Oklahoma
Delivery Method: CM/GC
Project Type:Early Childhood Education / Adaptive Reuse
Building Size:~10,000 Square Feet
Structure:Repurposed Pre-Engineered Metal Building
Completion Date: May 29, 2026
Project Goals
Safe Learning
Environment Initiatives
The project was driven by several critical objectives:
01. Replace temporary trailers with permanent, high-quality infrastructure
02. Expand student enrollment and classroom capacity
03. Improve safety through modern building codes and a new site storm shelter
04.Maximize ARPA funding through aggressive value engineering
05.Create an expansive learning environment that reflects Seminole Nation culture
Key Challenges
Hazardous Materials
Asbestos-containing materials found in the existing construction required full abatement before the structure could be refinished.
Existing Slab Conditions
The building’s former life as a bowling alley left significant elevation changes across the existing slab, inside a structure never designed to house a child care center.
Legacy Budget Allocation
Funding established on 2019 estimates bore no resemblance to 2024 construction pricing, requiring the scope to be rebuilt around the available dollars.
Value Engineering x Cost Certainty
Stronghold closed a five-year gap between a 2019 funding allocation and 2024 market pricing by value engineering the project’s entire civil scope, putting budget into the building rather than the ground around it. The facility reached completion on May 29, 2026, on budget and ahead of schedule, replacing trailers that had served Wewoka’s Head Start families for nearly 25 years and adding a storm shelter to a site that previously had none.
Ready to start your next project?