Wallingford residents will soon see changes at one of its neighborhood schools. A $79 million construction project will begin at Hamilton International Middle School, 1610 N. 41st St., by the end of the school year.Plans have been under review and discussion for the last several years. The final plans were unveiled at a community meeting on March 3.They consist of renovating the existing three-story building, as well as adding a gym and a play court. The plans for classroom structure center on the new teaching methodologies that have gained prominence since the 1920s, when the school was built."A lot of what drove the primary goal was the early decision team had to...attempt to transfer a more effective learning environment of 21st century," said architect Tom Bates, the construction project leader.In other words, the renovators wanted to create a place that had more personalized learning environments. The classrooms support smaller numbers of students, which will create a closer student-teacher relationship.THE NEW PLANSThe main floor will feature several art labs, a new library and various administrative offices. The main office will be expanded, as will the student service rooms. A PTA room will be added, Bates said, because the school wanted to recognize the PTA's importance.The two gymnasiums on the first floor also will undergo renovation. When the school was first built, there was a separate gym for boys and girls; this new plan will change the west gym into a performing arts center, and the east gym will become a fitness room.The other main element for the first floor is the student commons, which will be built where the existing auditorium is now."The greatest transformation and most impactful is the existing auditorium," Bates said. "The student commons will become the social heart of the school - for kids, students and the community."The second and third floors will share many of the same features. The primary classrooms are organized into clusters, with a shared space in the middle of four rooms. Two of these clusters will be located on the second floor, and four will be on the third floor.KEEPING THE PARK SEPARATEOne of the most controversial issues surrounding the entire plan concerns the locations of the new gymnasium and the outdoor play court. Wallingford Park is located next to the school, and community members worry the new school additions will impact the wildlife and nature of the area."It's great to have a city park and school next to each other," said local resident Lianne Sheppard, but added that "the park is a park and not an extension of the school."Her concern comes from previous plans that showed the gymnasium cutting a little bit into the park. Bates insists that now all of the developments are contained on the school grounds.In addition to concern over the park, there is also a concern with the aesthetic structure of the new building."Big things the community are upset about: All the north end of the building that is being added...are above ground," Sheppard said. "The second big thing is the arced ceiling is not with the architecture of the neighborhood at all."The new gym has a curved roof, while the rest of the school's design uses straight lines. Bates explained: "One of the requirements when building on is that it's different from the historic building. The soft, curved roof form was a way to differentiate it."KIDS VS. COMMUNITYThe plans for Hamilton's renovation started in early 2006, but it has taken a couple years to get to this point because of the disagreements between the community and the district. "I think the district has not come far enough to address the concerns of the community," Sheppard said. "It's really important for us as a community to figure out how to support the kids and nurture the community. The district, so far, has pitted the interest of kids against the community. It's really wrong."Even amidst all the debate, most agreed the school needs to be renovated, citing the chipped floors and old paint. "They say that they work with the community, but they don't," said Wallingford resident Linda Korbus. "It's just really frustrating.... But, definitely, the kids need a better site."Plans for the school renovation have been finalized now, and any changes, Bates said, would cost millions of dollars. Construction is slated to begin in July. It will last two years, with completion in August 2010. "I'm very proud of the design and work everyone has done on the project," Bates said. "[We want to] bring back the grandeur and beauty of the building that has been lost over the years, so it can last another 100 years."[[In-content Ad]]
