Blueprint secures permanent home for Austin-based charter school

Blueprint

Expanding educational opportunities for students in under-resourced communities

A Permanent Home for Learning: How Blueprint Is Delivering a New Campus for Cedars International Academy

by

For more than 20 years, Cedars International Academy has been a cornerstone of public education in Austin, serving generations of families through a rigorous, project-based learning model rooted in community, creativity, and opportunity. Like many high-performing charter schools, Cedars’ greatest challenge wasn’t academic—it was securing a permanent, affordable facility that could support long-term growth.

That challenge is now being solved.

Last November, Blueprint completed a transformative financing and development transaction that set Cedars on a path toward a consolidated, purpose-built K–12 campus. Today, Blueprint is actively managing the project, ensuring the campus is delivered on schedule and ready to welcome students for the 2026–2027 school year.

A Campus Designed for Students—and for the Future

The new Cedars campus is located in Austin in a former charter school building already approved for K–12 educational use. Because the building was recently renovated and fully conditioned for school operations, it is largely move-in ready, requiring only minor improvements before occupancy.

The site offers everything Cedars needs to grow and thrive:

  • 51,430 square feet on 7.26 acres
  • Approximately 40 classrooms, including large learning spaces and science labs
  • A cafeteria and full commercial kitchen
  • 400+ parking spaces supporting staff, families, and community events
  • A 4,400-square-foot playground with additional outdoor space
  • Administrative offices, health facilities, and ample storage

Most importantly, the campus provides Cedars with the capacity to grow toward its charter maximum of 1,000 students, while fully supporting its collaborative, project-based learning model.

Blueprint’s Role: Development, Financing, and Project Management

Blueprint is serving as developer, owner, and project manager for the Cedars campus—guiding the project from acquisition through financing, improvements, and delivery. As part of the financing solution, Blueprint also invested its own capital in the project, aligning its resources directly with Cedars’ long-term success and ensuring the transaction remained affordable, mission-driven, and student-centered.

This integrated role allows Blueprint to align real estate decisions directly with Cedars’ educational goals, while maintaining tight control over costs, timeline, and quality.

In partnership with Equitable Facilities Fund (EFF), Blueprint secured below-market financing to acquire the building on Cedars’ behalf. The structure is intentionally school-centered: Cedars will lease the facility at cost, with no markups or escalations, and retains the option to purchase the building within five years at the original price.

Over the first five years, this approach is expected to save Cedars approximately $2.5 million—resources that stay focused on classrooms, educators, and student programs rather than real estate overhead.

Managing the Path to a 2026–2027 Opening

Because the building already meets educational occupancy standards, the scope of work is limited and highly targeted. As project manager, Blueprint is overseeing final improvements—including site enhancements and perimeter fencing—to ensure the campus is fully ready for students and staff on schedule.

The project timeline is carefully structured to support a smooth transition, with construction and final preparations concluding well ahead of the 2026–2027 school year. This approach minimizes disruption for Cedars families and staff while delivering a permanent home that supports long-term stability.

Why This Project Matters

Cedars International Academy serves a student population that is nearly 80% economically disadvantaged, with a strong academic record and a recently renewed 10-year charter. Bringing its lower school and high school together onto a single campus allows Cedars to operate more efficiently, expand career-connected learning, and deepen partnerships that prepare students for college and the workforce.

For Blueprint, the Cedars project demonstrates what’s possible when nonprofit development, innovative financing, and thoughtful project management come together. By removing facilities barriers, Blueprint helps high-quality charter schools focus on what they do best: educating students and strengthening communities.

As Cedars prepares to open the doors to its new campus, this project stands as a model for how equitable, mission-driven real estate development can create lasting impact—on time, on budget, and centered on students.

A spacious, bright office room on the new campus of Cedars International Academy features white floors, light cabinets, fluorescent ceiling lights, and assorted office supplies on countertops along the right wall—perfect for reviewing a Blueprint or planning.
A spacious, bright office room on the new campus of Cedars.
A spacious, modern room on the new campus of Cedars International Academy features a blue and yellow patterned carpet, white walls, a yellow accent wall, and black chairs. Fluorescent lights brighten the space while large windows fill it with natural light.
A spacious, modern room on the new campus of Cedars.
A large, empty cafeteria at Cedars International Academy features blue and white checkered tile flooring, chairs stacked upside down on tables to the left, and a serving counter in the back. The brightly lit space is part of the new campus blueprint.
A large MPR at Cedars.
A clean, empty hallway at the new Cedars International Academy campus features a row of gray lockers on the right, white walls, a tiled floor, fluorescent ceiling lights, and a fire extinguisher cabinet on the left—just like in the Blueprint plans.
A clean, empty hallway at the new Cedars campus.
A spacious, modern room on the new campus of Cedars International Academy features a blue and yellow patterned carpet, white walls, a yellow accent wall, and black chairs. Fluorescent lights brighten the space while large windows fill it with natural light.

A Permanent Home for Learning: How Blueprint Is Delivering a New Campus for Cedars International Academy

January 15, 2026

By Eric Kot, Executive Director

For more than 20 years, Cedars International Academy has been a cornerstone of public education in Austin, serving generations of families through a rigorous, project-based learning model rooted in community, creativity, and opportunity. Like many high-performing charter schools, Cedars’ greatest challenge wasn’t academic—it was securing a permanent, affordable facility that could support long-term growth.

That challenge is now being solved.

Last November, Blueprint completed a transformative financing and development transaction that set Cedars on a path toward a consolidated, purpose-built K–12 campus. Today, Blueprint is actively managing the project, ensuring the campus is delivered on schedule and ready to welcome students for the 2026–2027 school year.

A Campus Designed for Students—and for the Future

The new Cedars campus is located in Austin in a former charter school building already approved for K–12 educational use. Because the building was recently renovated and fully conditioned for school operations, it is largely move-in ready, requiring only minor improvements before occupancy.

The site offers everything Cedars needs to grow and thrive:

  • 51,430 square feet on 7.26 acres
  • Approximately 40 classrooms, including large learning spaces and science labs
  • A cafeteria and full commercial kitchen
  • 400+ parking spaces supporting staff, families, and community events
  • A 4,400-square-foot playground with additional outdoor space
  • Administrative offices, health facilities, and ample storage

Most importantly, the campus provides Cedars with the capacity to grow toward its charter maximum of 1,000 students, while fully supporting its collaborative, project-based learning model.

Blueprint’s Role: Development, Financing, and Project Management

Blueprint is serving as developer, owner, and project manager for the Cedars campus—guiding the project from acquisition through financing, improvements, and delivery. As part of the financing solution, Blueprint also invested its own capital in the project, aligning its resources directly with Cedars’ long-term success and ensuring the transaction remained affordable, mission-driven, and student-centered.

This integrated role allows Blueprint to align real estate decisions directly with Cedars’ educational goals, while maintaining tight control over costs, timeline, and quality.

In partnership with Equitable Facilities Fund (EFF), Blueprint secured below-market financing to acquire the building on Cedars’ behalf. The structure is intentionally school-centered: Cedars will lease the facility at cost, with no markups or escalations, and retains the option to purchase the building within five years at the original price.

Over the first five years, this approach is expected to save Cedars approximately $2.5 million—resources that stay focused on classrooms, educators, and student programs rather than real estate overhead.

Managing the Path to a 2026–2027 Opening

Because the building already meets educational occupancy standards, the scope of work is limited and highly targeted. As project manager, Blueprint is overseeing final improvements—including site enhancements and perimeter fencing—to ensure the campus is fully ready for students and staff on schedule.

The project timeline is carefully structured to support a smooth transition, with construction and final preparations concluding well ahead of the 2026–2027 school year. This approach minimizes disruption for Cedars families and staff while delivering a permanent home that supports long-term stability.

Why This Project Matters

Cedars International Academy serves a student population that is nearly 80% economically disadvantaged, with a strong academic record and a recently renewed 10-year charter. Bringing its lower school and high school together onto a single campus allows Cedars to operate more efficiently, expand career-connected learning, and deepen partnerships that prepare students for college and the workforce.

For Blueprint, the Cedars project demonstrates what’s possible when nonprofit development, innovative financing, and thoughtful project management come together. By removing facilities barriers, Blueprint helps high-quality charter schools focus on what they do best: educating students and strengthening communities.

As Cedars prepares to open the doors to its new campus, this project stands as a model for how equitable, mission-driven real estate development can create lasting impact—on time, on budget, and centered on students.

A spacious, bright office room on the new campus of Cedars International Academy features white floors, light cabinets, fluorescent ceiling lights, and assorted office supplies on countertops along the right wall—perfect for reviewing a Blueprint or planning.
A spacious, bright office room on the new campus of Cedars.

A spacious, modern room on the new campus of Cedars International Academy features a blue and yellow patterned carpet, white walls, a yellow accent wall, and black chairs. Fluorescent lights brighten the space while large windows fill it with natural light.
A spacious, modern room on the new campus of Cedars.

A large, empty cafeteria at Cedars International Academy features blue and white checkered tile flooring, chairs stacked upside down on tables to the left, and a serving counter in the back. The brightly lit space is part of the new campus blueprint.
A large MPR at Cedars.

A clean, empty hallway at the new Cedars International Academy campus features a row of gray lockers on the right, white walls, a tiled floor, fluorescent ceiling lights, and a fire extinguisher cabinet on the left—just like in the Blueprint plans.
A clean, empty hallway at the new Cedars campus.

Back To Blog