Scott Elementary School Kindergarten Addition

Melrose Park, Illinois

Firm

SPM Architects, Inc.

Client

Mannheim District 83

Area

17,300 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$8,748,700

Completion Date

03/2019

Cultivate Studios

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Design Team
Consolidated Consulting Engineers (MEP Engineer); Woolpert (Structural Engineer); Mazur + Son Construction (Construction Manager)

Prior to the design and construction of a new kindergarten addition at Scott School, Mannheim School District 83’s kindergarten program consisted of a half-day program for students. Knowing the benefits of a full-day kindergarten curriculum for the future of its students, the district was determined to make full-day kindergarten a reality. The school did not have the space to accommodate full-day kindergarten, so the district had to construct an addition to meet the challenge. The program required four classrooms, a teachers’ conference room, and a multipurpose room with a storage room and warming kitchen that would serve as both a gym and lunchroom. Each classroom is outfitted with a personal toilet room and storage room. Perimeter cabinetry along with an integral teacher’s workstation allows for an open concept floor plan for maximum flexibility while still providing plentiful storage options. Every classroom has LED lighting along with SMART monitors that offer students the latest in technology. The multipurpose room houses wall pocket lunch tables for ease of converting the gym to a lunchroom. A large, motorized screen and projector allow for assemblies and large teacher meetings. The multipurpose room also contains a small kitchen with a motorized roll-up window for storing and warming food for student lunches. The addition has a second-floor mechanical room to house new energy-efficient mechanical equipment, including an air handler, boilers, and domestic water heaters. The addition is constructed using masonry bearing walls and a steel roof structure. A complementary colored brick for the multipurpose room provides visual variation and highlights its different function. The design extends to the exterior with an ADA-accessible entry and a playground for outside play.