The building was designed to replace several small, aging elementary schools with one larger facility that accommodates small learning communities and future education changes through its unique modular design. There are three 200-student learning communities and one hybrid community combining early childhood and district-wide special education programs. Each standard community is designed to accommodate 200 students and be subdivided into two 100-student neighborhoods. The four neighborhoods all share a common-size module to accommodate future use and expansion throughout the district.
How do we re-imagine this building with traditional school spaces to accommodate large populations and serve as a headquarters to the district's entire child services efficiently?
Traditional school spaces such as the library, cafeteria, stage, and lobby, had to be re-imagined to maximize their potential. This challenge was met by arranging three of the small learning community modules, as well as a unique module housing Kindergarten. Emotional, physical, and behavior development programs connect through a large 2-story flex studio.
- Student learning communities
- Early Childhood and Special Education learning communities
- Flexible Spaces
Asymmetric layout and playful ceiling fixtures add a vibrancy to students' usually-repetitive flow between classes.
The use of vibrant color-coating throughout the space creates an imaginative environment, and viscerally aides students as a way-finding tool.
Wide hallways with integrated accessibility ramps provide continuous, unimpeded stress-reducing traffic flow.
Faced with outdated and inflexible learning environments, unused spaces, chaotic drop off and pick up, and no central gathering area, doing nothing was not an option for the Jacksonville School District. Not only is the junior high experience a pivotal time in a child’s life, but of all the district facilities, the junior high was positioned to serve every student in the district.
Completed in 2022, the 11,519 s.f. gymnasium replacement consisted of all new flooring and paint work, bleachers, new basketball equipment, dedicated locker rooms, and new bathrooms. Environmental branding was added to the space, featuring the school colors throughout, as well as the school logo on the exterior of the building. Renovations were also done to the lobby, adding in environmental branding and creating a welcoming space for students, staff, and the community.
Palmyra R-1 School District has a long-standing tradition of basketball success and needed a complete refresh and rebranding of their existing gymnasium along with a new commons area.