The Funding Sour is a mix of grants and funding tools, loaded with referendum assistance — poured over exceptional service and garnished with a knowledgeable partner. No puckering allowed.
Are shrinking budgets and a lack of funding leaving a bad taste? Try our fresh approach to getting you the funding you need. With tighter budgets becoming the norm, school districts need partners experienced in uncovering and obtaining all available funding sources, from state and federal grants to referendum assistance. Our school experts will help maximize your resources by uncovering all your funding opportunities. |
Decatur Public Schools #61 - $73 million
After completing a thorough community engagement planning process (led by BLDD), Decatur Public Schools were able to pass a referendum to secure funding to completely remodel their two aging high schools. BLDD's grant experts also identified additional resources to offset total project cost.
After completing a thorough community engagement planning process (led by BLDD), Decatur Public Schools were able to pass a referendum to secure funding to completely remodel their two aging high schools. BLDD's grant experts also identified additional resources to offset total project cost.
- $300,000 Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
- $180,000 Illinois Clean Energy - Geothermal HVAC
- $200,000 Illinois Clean Energy - Design & Commissioning
- $2,500,000 E-Rate Funding (technology)
- $70,000,000 Facility Sales Tax Revenue (2010)
Meridian CUSD #15 - $42 million
BLDD helped positioned the Meridian School District for future success by submitting an Illinois Construction Grant Application on their behalf in 2002. The state didn't fund projects immediately, but when the money became available, Meridian was in a position to receive $29 million to supplement their local share on a once-in-a-lifetime district overhaul of facilities. Local shares were generated through a county sales tax referendum (passed after BLDD's community engagement process) and Health/Life Safety funding submitted by the BLDD team.
BLDD helped positioned the Meridian School District for future success by submitting an Illinois Construction Grant Application on their behalf in 2002. The state didn't fund projects immediately, but when the money became available, Meridian was in a position to receive $29 million to supplement their local share on a once-in-a-lifetime district overhaul of facilities. Local shares were generated through a county sales tax referendum (passed after BLDD's community engagement process) and Health/Life Safety funding submitted by the BLDD team.
- $7,000,000 Facility Sales Tax Revenue (2010)
- $4,000,000 Life/Safety Building Replacement (2010)
- $29,500,000 IL Construction Grant (2014)
- $1,000,000 Life/Safety Building Replacement (2014)
Iowa City Community School District - $291 million
Facing the challenges of rapid enrollment growth, aging facilities, concerns about equity and a desire to develop 21st-century educational environments, the Iowa City Community School District commissioned the BLDD team to conduct a community engagement planning process. The “ONE VISION” facilities master planning process created a 10-year master plan that serves as the District’s roadmap for future facilities decision making and enabled approval for both a building bond referendum and SAVE referendum to complete the work.
Facing the challenges of rapid enrollment growth, aging facilities, concerns about equity and a desire to develop 21st-century educational environments, the Iowa City Community School District commissioned the BLDD team to conduct a community engagement planning process. The “ONE VISION” facilities master planning process created a 10-year master plan that serves as the District’s roadmap for future facilities decision making and enabled approval for both a building bond referendum and SAVE referendum to complete the work.
- $100,000,000 SAVE Referendum (2013)
- $191,000,000 Building Bond Referendum (2017)
Old Building Old Fashion is a TWIST on the 1950s brick building, muddled with dated classrooms, a cracked foundation and drafty windows — topped off with a leaky roof.
It’s time to bring your building into the 21st century! Dated learning environments could be hampering your ability to provide a 21st century education. Let us serve up a solution that honors the history of your building AND re-imagines the educational spaces it can provide for your students well into the future. |
Van Buren High School | Van Buren Community Schools
Common areas with an institutional feel were converted to bright and inviting spaces students and teachers could enjoy.
Outdated learning environments were transformed into hands-on learning spaces that encourage collaboration and creative thinking.
Common areas with an institutional feel were converted to bright and inviting spaces students and teachers could enjoy.
Outdated learning environments were transformed into hands-on learning spaces that encourage collaboration and creative thinking.
Outdated learning environments were transformed into hands-on learning spaces that encourage collaboration and creative thinking.
Under-utilized, dated resource rooms were converted to flexible learning spaces that can evolve alongside teaching-learning methods.
The Crowded House Colada is a blend of growing pains and classroom inefficiencies served with a dollop of the unexpected consolidation.
Most communities would love to have their schools spilling over with students, but districts facing this challenge know that overcrowding can be a buzzkill. Whether you choose to build new, add on, or repurpose, BLDD will design creative and flexible spaces for your students to learn and grow. |
Jacksonville Middle School | Jacksonville School District #117
Challenged by cramped corridors and poor traffic flow, hallways and common areas were strategically widened to allow students room to move and gather.
Challenged by cramped corridors and poor traffic flow, hallways and common areas were strategically widened to allow students room to move and gather.
The undersized and obsolete gym was transformed into a state-of-the art, flexible performance space. The main audience seating area can be easily rearranged to create flexible learning environments, collaboration areas or a community meeting space. Coupling desirable secondary uses with performance space designs allows for high utilization and impacts the entire educational experience.
The unused courtyard was revived as a destination learning space and also serves as an overflow space for lunch, presentations and other activities.
Institutional and crowded corridors were replaced with open and flexible break-out spaces. Congestion was relieved by creating clear and comfortable circulation paths for students and staff.
The Building Security Slammer is a combination of secure entrances and access control garnished with a dash of A/V monitoring. It's like having Superman, The Hulk AND Chuck Norris as personal security guards.
Safe learning environments are important now more than ever ... but you don’t want to feel like you’re in the slammer! BLDD Architects is leading the effort to provide our clients with the latest concepts and strategies to make school facilities safe and secure. A comprehensive approach addresses both operational and design challenges. |
Jacksonville Middle School | Jacksonville School District #117
Faced with a chaotic drop-off and pick-up and no central gathering area, security was a growing concern for the Jacksonville School District. The updated design provides several enhanced security features, including separated bus and parent traffic, updated traffic flow, and enhanced secure main and event entries.
Faced with a chaotic drop-off and pick-up and no central gathering area, security was a growing concern for the Jacksonville School District. The updated design provides several enhanced security features, including separated bus and parent traffic, updated traffic flow, and enhanced secure main and event entries.
There are a number of different approaches to consider for security access control, classroom and corridor design. Below are some options to consider when creating a safe school.
The Sporty Shot is a splash of athletics, an ounce of fitness, and a double helping of school pride is a recipe guaranteed to make you a CHAMPION.
Providing students with spaces that support a healthy lifestyle and opportunities for competition will prepare them for lifelong success. Our passion for education and knowledge of today’s trends in recreation design provide our clients with gymnasiums, flexible exercise rooms, and athletic complexes that support healthy learning. |
Mt. Zion High School Field House | Mt. Zion CUSD #3
Geneseo High School Football Field and Stands | Geneseo CUSD #228
Pleasant Plains High School Weight Room and Fitness Center | Pleasant Plains CUSD #8
Meridian Jr./Sr. High School Gym | Meridian CUSD #15
Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy Natatorium | Chicago Public Schools
The QLEO Sidecar is a mix of costs and benefits served over a generous helping of scenarios. This database driven mix is best paired with an indecisive community.
How do you identify the best long-range facilities plan for your district? By using QLEO (BLDD's proprietary software), you can turn a mountain of reports and paperwork, riddled with emotion and opinions, into a clear decision. QLEO performs a cost/benefit analysis based on a combination of first costs of construction, life cycle costs, and educational adequacy. |
WHAT IS QLEO? QLEO is a master plan modeling and analysis software, developed by BLDD to help our clients choose the right option today for the school district and community of tomorrow and beyond. QLEO provides objective information for what is typically a very subjective and emotional decision.
How does QLEO work? QLEO projects and compares both the COSTS and BENEFITS of numerous Master Plan Scenarios. For each scenario, we evaluate the life cycle costs and the educational adequacy to help you choose the right option.
How does QLEO work? QLEO projects and compares both the COSTS and BENEFITS of numerous Master Plan Scenarios. For each scenario, we evaluate the life cycle costs and the educational adequacy to help you choose the right option.
School Pride Sangria is big juicy chunks of your school’s brand, mixed into your building in unexpected ways. This colorful combo packs a big visual punch on a budget.
Your brand is so much more than your logo or mascot — it’s an experience. Working with BLDD’s environmental graphics team, your space can showcase a one-of-a-kind experience that connects your facilities to your school pride. It’s sure to make a splash with students, staff and visitors alike. |
Eisenhower High School | Decatur Public Schools #61
Branded environments take any building project to the next level of WOW! And creating a visual experience for your project can be surprisingly affordable. Of the $35 million to complete Eisenhower High School, branded graphics accounted for $50,000 of the cost. Through this branding, not only is the sense of school pride increased, but the school identity is reinforced and words of encouragement empower students to connect on a greater level to their environments and each other.
Branded environments take any building project to the next level of WOW! And creating a visual experience for your project can be surprisingly affordable. Of the $35 million to complete Eisenhower High School, branded graphics accounted for $50,000 of the cost. Through this branding, not only is the sense of school pride increased, but the school identity is reinforced and words of encouragement empower students to connect on a greater level to their environments and each other.
Think BIG Breeze is a perfect blend of design thinking and collaboration. This 5-step concoction makes it a breeze to create 21st-century environments that students and teachers love.
Think BIG is different because it gives administration, staff and students the chance to quickly explore and test drive ideas, in full scale, before the design is finalized. From room layouts to technology and furniture, we will make sure you love the way it all works together. |
The Utilization Cooler will help quench your thirst to get the most out of your space. This mix of smart space planning and lower operating costs is sure to lift your spirits!
Think the only way to satisfy the needs of your district is to build from scratch? You may be leaving cost-saving options on the table. At BLDD Architects, we can help you get the biggest bang for your buck (and space) by developing a plan to maximize the utilization of your existing facilities. |
Delavan High School | Delavan CUSD #703
In addition to the challenges of an inefficient, non-accessible and aging 1922 high school facility, the Delavan School District was not utilizing their spaces efficiently, which resulted in increased maintenance and utility costs. To combat the 60% of space that was not used, rarely used or used under capacity, a new high school addition was designed for proper utilization, resulting in a total of 5,000 s.f. less than the existing high school, which saves $32,000 yearly in operating and maintenance costs.
In addition to the challenges of an inefficient, non-accessible and aging 1922 high school facility, the Delavan School District was not utilizing their spaces efficiently, which resulted in increased maintenance and utility costs. To combat the 60% of space that was not used, rarely used or used under capacity, a new high school addition was designed for proper utilization, resulting in a total of 5,000 s.f. less than the existing high school, which saves $32,000 yearly in operating and maintenance costs.
The new spaces are flexible, allowing for more than one function. This feature provides a smaller footprint and lower energy use. As well as having a smaller footprint, the project includes high-efficiency fixtures, occupancy lighting controls, daylighting, SIPS exterior wall assembly, and energy efficient windows.