Hephzibah Elementary School

Hephzibah, Georgia

Firm

James W. Buckley and Associates, Inc.

Client

Richmond County School System

Area

78,106 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$7,741,263

Completion Date

07/2001

Bright colors and high ceilings welcome students at Hephzibah Elementary School. As students and faculty enter the school from the front entrance pavilion or the bus pavilion, bright primary colors, a 30-foot-high ceiling and an infusion of natural light greet them.

The exterior of the building is brick and split-face block. An outdoor multiuse platform is constructed with the brick from the old school. Terrazzo flooring in the hallways, commons and cafetorium provide the durability required by the school system while enhancing the overall appearance of the school.

The pinwheel design of the school organizes each wing by grade level. The media center, the cafeteria/gymnasium and administration area are in the main hub of the facility. The pre-K to first-grade wing has in-classroom bathrooms ideally suited for younger children, while the special-education classrooms were designed to accommodate children with moderate to severe handicaps. The combined gymnasium and cafeteria can be divided for school functions and features a hardwood-floor stage with an offstage connection to the music room.