Grand Valley PK-12 School

Orwell, Ohio

Firm

Buehrer Group Architecture & Engineering

Client

Grand Valley Local Schools

Area

245,568 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$31,066,463

Completion Date

08/2005

The Grand Valley PK-12 School, which occupies a building footprint of nearly 6 acres, is nestled on a 95-acre site in rural Orwell, Ohio. When constructed, it was the largest K-12 school building in Ohio.
One school building serving the needs of an entire school district was the design directive. Educational program requirements for maintaining separation among the different grade levels were premier. Common spaces helped to delineate and define the three educational areas of the school. These spaces such as the three gymnasiums, auditeria, elementary dining with stage and common kitchen, were used as the dividing elements. Consideration was given to how this facility would operate after the end of the traditional school day and how three educational wings could be secured while evening practices, athletic events, stage performances and other community activities occured. A skylighted main entry lobby with a 20-foot-wide hall welcomes middle- and high-school students. The kindergarten and elementary students have a separate entrance in the portion of the school farthest away from the older students.
The auditeria gathering and performance space has a full stage, complete with rigging, and equipped with sound and lighting systems for theatrical and musical productions. Some 300 individual chairs are set for these special school functions. During the traditional school day, this space is set with rolling tables and chairs for student dining.
Three grade-level-specific media centers, three computer laboratories, computer-
assisted drawing (CAD) laboratories, three music rooms, three art rooms, five science laboratories and 88 classrooms all are fitted with modern educational technology, including fiber-optic cabling.