Concrete Revitalizes Former Retail Space for Educational Use

The Convocation Center, designed by the Atlanta office of Perkins & Will Architects, is a partnership between Clayton County Public Schools and several other stakeholders, including Clayton County. Longtime Walker customer MEJA Construction, based in Peachtree City, GA, is managing construction.

A convocation center is a large, multipurpose facility typically designed to host a variety of events, including conferences, concerts, and community gatherings. Often associated with educational institutions or public spaces, these centers are equipped with flexible seating and technical facilities to accommodate both large and small groups, serving as a communal venue for formal and informal events alike.

Scheduled for completion in late 2025, the innovative Convocation Center will feature an 8,000-seat arena for Clayton County graduation ceremonies, education-based gatherings, and community events.

The College and Career Academy will offer four career, technical, and agricultural education (CTAE) pathways. It will also house the county’s Junior Achievement Program, Boys and Girls Clubs, flexible conference space, an outdoor event lawn, a rooftop terrace, and Tesla charging stations.

“This is a very interesting project that will add tremendously to Clayton County, both in terms of education and community value,” said Ralph Almand, the Walker sales representative on the project.

“MEJA, the contractor on the job, has been a Walker customer since they started. I’ve personally worked with them since joining the company in 1988. They’re great folks, and we have a fantastic relationship,” Almand said.

He noted that the project includes slab-on-grade, elevated slabs, slab-on-metal-deck with lightweight concrete, poured retaining walls with massive footings, columns, and shear walls. “In all, there are 12 different mixes involved. The specs require 3,000 PSI concrete in the footers, 3,500 PSI for the slab-on-grade, and 5,000 PSI for the columns and shear walls.

The slab-on-metal deck uses 3,000 PSI lightweight concrete, and the retaining walls are specified at 4,000 PSI. The elevated slabs, which use extensive rebar, require 5,000 PSI concrete. “The list goes on,” Almand says, “and the project is proceeding smoothly. The most challenging aspect is the site’s drainage. A half-inch of rain can shut down work for two days until it dries out,” Almand notes.

One of Three Major Projects

This is one of three projects Walker is partnering on with the Clayton County Board of Education, Perkins & Will, and MEJA Construction. The other two are the recently completed Morrow High School and East Clayton Elementary School.

“Repurposing the infrastructure at Southlake Mall and the former Sears anchor store, and eliminating the need to lease graduation facilities, not only makes efficient use of public funds but also exemplifies sustainable development,” said Jared Server, an architect with Perkins & Will.

“With its distinctive profile, it’s set to become a landmark on the southside of Atlanta, visible to thousands on I-75 daily. Its flexibility to host athletic events, concerts, and trade shows showcases the power of collaboration between public school systems and civic entities like the Clayton County Board of Supervisors and the City of Morrow to drive economic development,” Server added.

Sean Gable, vice president of MEJA Construction, echoed Server’s comments. “We work on K-12 facilities throughout Georgia, but we’ve never seen a vision like this. It’s great for MEJA to be part of it.”

“We are building a state-of-the-art facility,” says School Board Chair Jessie Goree. “It will be a facility second to none. No other school board, county authority, or city has undertaken such a project.”