At a Media Briefing by Cabinet Ministers on 20 October 2006, Hon Alden McLaughlin, Minister of Education, Training, Employment Services, Youth and Sports, said that the successful tender for building the Islands' three new schools - projects placed as high-priority items since this Government took office in May 2005 - came from Chicago-based O'Donnell, Wickland, Picozzi (OWP).

Mr McLaughlin revealed that local architects were also assigned to the project.

He said that the overseas firm would "work in conjunction with local architects OA&D" - the firm Mr McLaughlin described as the "local managing architect on the project."

The Minister said that engineering consultants had also been appointed and these professionals would be "working under the supervision of the architects in the firms (OWP and OA&D)."

Mr McLaughlin said that the US-based firm work with clients worldwide in education, healthcare, and commercial environments to develop healthy, energy-efficient environments.

He said Government officials and the architects were scheduled to meet early in the week of 23 October "to look at roles, responsibilities and schedules."

Alongside the announcement of OWP's appointment has also come the news of the Ministry's appointment of a specialist firm  in planning and management - Fielding Nair International (FNI).

At the Media Briefing Mr McLaughlin explained that FNI would "assist with ensuring that the schools' facilities met international methods and standards for leading edge learning environments.

Described as one of the "world's leading change agents in school design," and, as a recognized leader in the planning and design of learning environments, Mr McLaughlin said that FNI's Principal - Prakash Nair - has received "several international awards including, the prestigious CEFPI MacConnell Award, which is the top honour worldwide for school design."

According to reports, FNI has worked on over $10 billion worth of schools over the last 15 years.

According to Mr McLaughlin, FNI will work with the recently appointed architect firms to "understand the learning environments and how best to make them conducive to the highest standards of teaching and learning in schools."

Mr McLaughlin said FNI would also provide staff with training and advice on the effective usage of learning environments; and, offer consultancy services on the planning and implementation of technical, vocational and adult training programmes.