Case overview
The Stewart Middle School and Just Middle School reconstruction is a $70 million redevelopment project in West Tampa, driven by Hillsborough County Public Schools to modernize educational environments and strengthen neighborhood legacy. DASH partnered with Skanska USA and One Day Came Inc. to support community engagement, storytelling, and ongoing strategic communications for the project.
Involvement
- Event Production
- Consulting
- Multimedia Production
- Digital Marketing
- Community Engagement
- Signage
The Brief
Stewart Middle School and Just Middle School have long been central to West Tampa’s history and identity. As the schools entered a planned reconstruction, the project team needed a communications partner capable of:
- Elevating stakeholder understanding and support during pre-construction planning
- Producing engaging community events that captured resident input
- Crafting compelling multimedia content to reflect the project’s importance
- Keeping the public informed throughout all project phases
DASH was brought on early in pre-construction for presentation strategy and consulting, helping shape the project’s narrative and community engagement framework.
DIGITAL STORYTELLING
How DASH Helped
Strategic Consulting & Proposal Support
DASH supported Skanska’s pre-construction efforts with presentation preparation and consulting, contributing to the team earning high evaluation points and value-add recognition during selection.
Event Production & Community Engagement
DASH produced and facilitated a project design charrette, bringing together families, educators, local leaders, and residents to share hopes, priorities, and design preferences. Through intentional facilitation and documentation, the event helped ensure community voices shaped project direction.
Multimedia Storytelling
DASH captured the stories, testimonies, and historical memories of West Tampa residents through professional photography and videography, creating authentic content that honored the schools historic significance.
Digital Content & Communications
To keep key stakeholders informed, DASH developed:
- Email newsletters with project updates and community highlights
- Regular content that translated construction progress into clear, engaging narratives
- Audiovisual support for meetings, presentations, and public forums
Website Design & Maintenance
DASH designed and maintains the project website, serving as the central public information hub with updates, timelines, and engagement resources. DASH also provides ongoing best-practice guidance to the development team for community communications and digital presence.
Community impact
DASH supported Skanska in fostering a meaningful, lasting relationship with Stewart Middle Magnet School by helping establish and manage the Next Gen Leaders Mentorship Program. Designed to extend engagement beyond construction, the program connected local community leaders with male students in 6th and 7th grade, creating space for mentorship, encouragement, and real-world exposure to leadership, careers, and personal development.
Through strategic planning, coordination, and storytelling, DASH helped position Skanska as a true community partner—one invested not only in rebuilding schools, but in empowering the next generation of students who will learn, lead, and grow within them.
the results
- Stronger community alignment through inclusive engagement and thoughtful storytelling
- Transparent, consistent communication keeping residents and stakeholders informed
- Memorialization of local history, honoring the cultural importance of both schools
- Recognition for strategic value in project planning and community outreach
- A centralized digital platform serving as a trusted resource throughout the reconstruction