Insights from SPS+ Architects
Arizona schools have secured a long-awaited victory in the state’s school funding lawsuit — and SPS+ Architects is proud to have been part of it.
The case traces back to 2015, when SPS+ helped Glendale Elementary School District (GESD) secure emergency funding after school closures revealed inequities in state support. That advocacy set the stage for the 2017 lawsuit challenging how Arizona funded school facilities.
When the case went to trial, SPS+ Managing Partner Mark Davenport was called as an expert witness. Of nearly 70 experts, he was one of only two who volunteered his time. The legal team repeatedly pointed to Mark’s testimony as instrumental in securing the win.
At a recent meeting of the Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO), the lead attorney thanked Mark publicly, calling out the importance of his contribution to the packed room of school leaders. The response — a standing ovation — spoke to how much this case matters to districts statewide.
For SPS+, this victory highlights what we bring to every partnership: expertise, credibility, and a commitment to helping districts secure the resources they deserve. We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients, whether designing facilities or advocating for the funding that makes them possible.
SPS+ Advocates for Districts in Historic School Funding Victory
At SPS+, we do more than design buildings—we help clients achieve outcomes. When the West-MEC Career Academy at Agua Fria Campus project faced a nearly impossible timeline, we asked a simple question: what will it take to deliver this for students and staff?
The answer: presence. We placed a design leader on site several days each week. That decision changed everything.
Instead of waiting days or even weeks for issues to move through the traditional RFI/submittal cycle, problems were solved in real time, side by side with the contractor and the client. Solutions were documented with confirming RFIs to maintain accountability, but progress never stalled.
This approach was one of many creative solutions throughout the project that allowed the team to compress a projected two-year schedule into just 14 months, saving the district nearly a full year and giving students access to new career pathways sooner. Along the way, we built trust with both the contractor and client through open, face-to-face communication and a spirit of shared problem-solving.
For SPS+, it’s simple: we’ll do what it takes—whether that’s embedding our people on site, rethinking the process, or finding creative ways to shave time and costs. Because when our clients succeed, students benefit.
