For three years ending in December 2004, PB provided program management support for the Los Angeles Unified School District Capital Improvement Program's (LAUSD) $15 billion construction and modernization program, the largest schools capital improvement program in the U.S.  PB provided overall program management for the district's $6 billion repair and modernization program, and supported LAUSD's $9 billion new construction program. Over this three-year period, the project's completion rate improved from $10 million per month to more than $50 million per month.  The change order rate for this program over the last year was 4.2% compared with an industry standard of 10%.  At the end of 2004, the program had 1,500 projects valued at over $650 million under construction.

The Strategic Execution Plan developed for 6,000 repair and modernization projects set the course for rapid and orderly completion of the complex program, and has been the most important factor in its success.  In reviewing projects for the modernization initiative, PB identified a $600 million budget shortfall, working with LAUSD to recoup that deficit by leveraging $200 million in additional state funds and securing additional local bond funding of $400 million.  PB's participation extended to the public information campaign, helping to secure public support for the passage of bond issues.  More than 10,000 repair and renovation projects have been completed since the project's launch in 1997.

In terms of new facilities, PB guided the construction department responsible for managing LAUSD's New Schools Construction Program. In the three years PB has been on board, LAUSD has completed 68 new school construction projects.

Jim McConnell, LAUSD's Chief Facilities Executive, gives the PB team high marks.  "This is a hand-picked team from the best of the best," he said.  "This is one of the largest construction efforts in the United States and we need the right people to make it work.  They make it look easy."