North Union Elementary School

Richwood, Ohio

Firm

MKC Associates, Inc.

Client

North Union Local Schools

Area

91,424 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$10,021,150

Completion Date

08/2004

North Union Elementary is the first phase of an Ohio School Facilities Commission program sponsoring districtwide facility upgrades. The building serves 790 students in grades pre-K to 5. The design consists of four separate classroom wings: pre-K to K; grades 1 to 2; grades 3 to 4; and grade 5. These individual wings provide for the proper mix of different age groups within the same building. The wings are color-coded with creative tile patterns using key colors to enable children to travel with ease.
To meet the district’s needs, the floor plan’s wings and expanded classroom sizes facilitate “looping” and collaborative instruction of grades 1 to 2 and grades 3 to 4; enhanced classrooms provide independent areas for pre-K to K students. Fifth grade also is served by an independent space.
The design is anchored by a central multipurpose cafetorium and gymnasium, both of which are designed with separate access to allow community use after hours. The library/media center includes a large-group computer lab, as well as small-group instruction-technology spaces and the administration area, and completes the building’s central core. The school also includes specialized art and music rooms, and dedicated space for school volunteers. Outside traffic flow and building entrances were organized to separate bus traffic and parent pickup areas.