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Plante Moran Realpoint assists largest school district in Michigan with transformational facility master plan

With over 48,000 students and 12 million square feet of space across 106 school buildings, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is Michigan’s largest public education system.

In 2022, DPSCD approved a $700 million facility master plan focused on improving its facilities for best serving students, families, and the community. DPSCD’s vision is to have every active DPSCD building reach a “good” or better facility condition index, deliver new or newly renovated schools in each neighborhood boundary, and develop a sustainable capital and operating funding for DPSCD facilities by 2040. The plan begins with seven phases.

Plante Moran Realpoint (PMR), formerly Plante Moran Cresa, is engaged as a facility and capital program department for hire to assist in planning and implementing over $500 million of this transformational and impactful program. Our involvement with the 2022 Facility Master Plan follows a long history serving as a trusted advisor to DPSCD. Since 2009, PMR has provided DPSCD with facility and construction planning and implementation services that include:

  • Demographics and enrollment projections by school, including current market trends and development overview in Detroit
  • Real estate consulting across 281 locations, including 106 occupied schools and 86 vacant properties
  • Establishing capital program processes and procedures
  • Funding procurement
  • Strategic planning and phasing for capital programs
  • Professional services procurement and contract negotiation
  • Design oversight and value engineering
  • Program management and construction oversight
  • Ensuring local/minority community involvement
  • Community outreach at a school level

Throughout our engagements with DPSCD, we have provided a tremendous amount of value as a facilities and construction advisor, saving the District millions of dollars through proactive program planning and management.

In November 2022, PMR and DPSCD presented our facility planning process to the largest school districts in the country at the Council of Great City Schools COO conference in New Orleans, LA. PMR is proud to continue to work with DPSCD and to serve as a trusted advisor for facility planning and capital programs.

Our expertise plus with your district’s vision for the future is unstoppable. Reach out to our K12 experts today to see how we can assist you with all your real estate and facility needs. 


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Warren Mott High School Exterior

Warren Consolidated Schools

Warren, MI

Since 2000, Warren Consolidated Schools, the tenth largest school district in Michigan, has engaged Plante Moran Realpoint for bond planning and owner’s representative services for four bond programs totaling more than $500 million of site work, renovations, and additions.

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Photo of GRPS Southwest Side High School Entrance, a capital project completed as part of the 2015 $175 million bond program with help from K12 owner's representative Plante Moran Cresa

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Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Public Schools builds state-of-the-art educational institution with owner’s representative Plante Moran Realpoint, serving students and community members as a space for collaboration.

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Van Buren Schools Image

Van Buren Public Schools

Belleville, MI

Plante Moran Realpoint's pre-bond planning and program management services have saved Van Buren Public Schools millions over its bond programs and sinking fund projects.

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Novi Community School District high school athletic building and track, as seen from outside

Novi Community School District

Novi, MI

To keep its mission of “a commitment to excellence,” Novi Community School District used funds from two voter-approved bonds over eight years to make improvements across district facilities and build a new Early Childhood Education Center.

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Photo of Birmingham Public Schools MI Auditorium Exterior Entrance, a major project during the 2015 Bond Program with owner's representative Plante Moran Cresa

Birmingham Public Schools

Beverly Hills, MI

With funding from two bond programs spurring continuous facility improvements, Birmingham Public Schools solidifies its reputation as a top school district in Michigan.

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Ypsilanti School District Image

Ypsilanti Public Schools

Ypsilanti, MI

In 2007, Ypsilanti Public Schools consisted of only 14 buildings, and the District was due for a much-needed renovation of its aging facilities and the addition of new facilities.

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