Ready for Our Close-up: Palacio Project Featured on America ByDESIGN
- Angie Roberts
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
ATLANTA, GA ─ March 17, 2026 ─ Friday night lights shine a little brighter at the new Douglas County High School Sports Complex—a local project gaining national recognition with a feature in the latest episode of America ByDESIGN, airing this Saturday, March 21.
Palacio Collaborative is proud to have served as the cost management partner for this innovative community-focused facility.
A Bold Vision Rooted in Community
Designed by Cole Hil, “The Claw” reimagines the traditional fieldhouse as a hub of education, athletics, and pride where the community can come together like past generations had since 1937, when the school was established.
Conceived during a period of district-wide rebranding and cultural change, the project team was led by Cole Hil Partner and Principal Architect Nicole Hilton, who prioritized robust community engagement to guide the building’s design.
The resulting two-story complex, constructed in 2023 within the footprint of the original facility, includes coach offices, locker and weight rooms, classrooms, support spaces, and an elevated community area with a balcony overlooking the football field. A new home grandstand added 3,500 seats, team rooms, concessions, and a press box.
For Dr. Trent North, Superintendent of the Douglas County School System, the project was about setting a standard beyond bricks and mortar.
“If we want K-12 public education to succeed, we have to model excellence for students with quality facilities,” said Dr. North.
Early Cost Collaboration Sets the Foundation
Palacio played a pivotal role in bringing “The Claw” from concept to reality by providing early-stage Cost Management. Working closely with Cole Hil, Palacio developed the project’s conceptual cost estimate and subsequent cost estimates during schematic design, establishing realistic budget guardrails to help keep the project on track.
“Palacio’s role in providing the initial cost estimate was instrumental in aligning owner expectations and securing a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) with the contractor,” said Hilton. “Remarkably, the final scope of work remained closely aligned with the original concept design.”
Her satisfaction underscores the importance of early cost collaboration, a principle Michael D. Palacio, Palacio’s President, and the project’s Lead Cost Manager says is key to establishing a solid foundation for everything that follows.
“Cole Hil’s early engagement with us was a model for project teams getting on the same page with costs, and staying aligned to avoid surprises later,” said Palacio. “Our early Cost Modeling and Estimating helped the team establish realistic budget parameters to carry the design intent through to construction.”
Innovation Amid Global Challenges
Delivered in the midst of a global pandemic, the project demanded extraordinary adaptability, collaboration, and innovation. When site access was restricted, the design and construction teams used drone monitoring, virtual coordination, and Procore-based project management to keep the project on time and within budget.
National Recognition for Collaborative Design Excellence
The project’s national spotlight on America ByDESIGN emphasizes how forward-focused design can elevate educational infrastructure and civic identity. More than an athletic venue, “The Claw” serves as a physical and cultural anchor for Douglas County, and reflects the district’s investment in student pride, community engagement, and diversity.
It’s a result that deeply resonated with Dr. North, whose vision helped shape the project from the start.
“You can’t feed excellence with mediocrity,” he said. “I wanted to create something that my students deserved.”
Air Date and Time: Saturday, March 21st at 9 p.m.
CBS Livestream: Download the CBS News app on your device or Smart TV
Additional Streaming: Pluto TV, the Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, Paramount+, and Smart Healthy Green Living
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About Palacio Collaborative
Palacio Collaborative is a minority-owned full-service construction cost estimating firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA with offices in NC, SC, TX, and LA. Strategically located, we provide quality estimating nationwide in a variety of markets. Our primary services include conceptual cost modeling, budget verification, cost management, and value management. Through innovative tools and proactive collaboration, our value-added services assist to develop accurate project budgets, manage cost, preserve the integrity of the design, and deliver a project with the highest quality and value.
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