The new Lake Forest Elementary School in New Orleans East is a public charter school authorized by the Orleans Parish School Board with the mission to provide a nurturing environment for children from diverse backgrounds, which facilitates maximum student achievement through a rigorous, accelerated academic program incorporating visual, cultural and creative arts. The school for 600 students includes classrooms, gymnasium, performance space, cafeteria, and media center.

As part of the design and construction team delivering the project on a fast-track schedule, Manning worked directly with the contractor and infrastructure subcontractors to produce coordination drawings. This documentation identified equipment and systems, including long lead-time items, and resolved potential issues of coordination with architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection. The work resulted in a strategically planned approach for construction which reduced the construction duration and facilitated close communication between team members.