A team of staff, parents and neighbors has met 10 times since the first of the school year to give planners advice regarding the school floor plans and siting. The team has met twice with the neighbors, with an additional meeting planned for the near future.
The project includes the design of an approximately 59,900 square foot elementary school on the site of the existing Robert Frost Elementary School. The new school will be built behind the existing school in the area of the current playfields. The existing school will be utilized during the construction of the new facility and demolished after its completion.
Additional space
The school will have an additional kindergarten classroom and approximately 1,800 square feet of area dedicated to the medically fragile program.
Some design elements include:
* A separate gym and commons allow dining and indoor recreation to happen in the same period.
* Paired classrooms using high sound coefficient operable walls will offer flexibility for teaming modes of teaching. The cluster layout provides students with more intimate spaces and a feeling of a "neighborhood" within the school.
* Restrooms are located to minimize noise problems to quiet spaces and to minimize potential use by dissimilar age groups.
* Convenient and attractive hallways with appropriate lighting and durable materials provide fire code compliant display space for student work, reinforcing a positive nurturing atmosphere in the school.
* The appropriate amount of natural light.
* The poetry themes of the school's namesake, Robert Frost, will be evident in the design of the building and landscape.
* Durable and low maintenance materials minimize building cost and focus on the use of renewable resources and energy efficient design.
* The bus drop-off and pick-up zone is completely separate from that of the parent's vehicle zone, for safety.
* The covered play area and hard surface play zones are located close in to the building for easy access.
* The entire recess play area is visible from a common vantage point to aid teachers in monitoring physical activities.
* Landscaping, in addition to being attractive and well-suited to the building design will be designed with maintenance costs in mind and located in a manner that will not compromise site and building security.
If you have comments regarding the project, contact Steve Cole, modernization program manager, 882-5101.[[In-content Ad]]
