Aquilla J. Morgan High School

Location: Wimauma, Florida

Award: Architectural

Project Team

Owner: School District of Hillsborough County

General Contractor: The Beck Group / Envision

Concrete Contractor: VMG Construction, Inc

Architect: Harvard Jolly | PBK

Engineer: Master Consulting Engineers

Concrete: Maschmeyer Concrete

Slag Cement: Quikrete Cement

Located in Wimauma, Florida, Aquilla J. Morgan High School is a massive 176 million dollar project sitting on an 87-acre greenfield site. Built to accommodate over 3,400 students, this is the largest high school ever constructed in Hillsborough County—the nation’s seventh-largest school system. The campus features nine main buildings, ranging from one to three stories, utilizing a combination of tilt-up and cast-in-place concrete.

To meet the structural and environmental goals of such a large-scale project, the team prioritized a sustainable, low-carbon concrete mix. Slag cement was the primary tool used to achieve this, offering a greener alternative to traditional portland cement.

Beyond the environmental benefits, the inclusion of slag cement proved to be a highly economical choice, reducing the overall cost of the concrete compared to standard mix designs. This efficiency allowed the district to focus resources on the school's state-of-the-art facilities, which include culinary and automotive labs, electronic sports arenas, and electric vehicle charging stations throughout the campus.

The Aquilla J. Morgan High School project is a perfect example of how slag cement can be used in the public sector to deliver high-performance, sustainable educational infrastructure while remaining fiscally responsible for the community.

Application Type

Application Type	Foundations & Slab on Grade
% Slag Cement Replacement	50%
% Portland Cement	---
% Portland Limestone Cement	50%
% Other SCM (if applicable)	---
Aggregate	No. 57 limestone
Water/cement ratio	0.45
7-day strengths	4,720 psi
28-day strengths	6,760 psi