Challenge: The district needed to replace a building originally constructed in 1898 on the same tight site, while the old school remained open and in use, a dangerous public right-of-way divided the property, and the original program was 20% larger than the budget could support.

Solution: Negotiate the vacation of the city ROW to unify the site, design a compact two-story building expandable by up to 100 students, and consult with the Historic Preservation Association before demolition to create a permanent display honoring the original school.

Core classrooms placed on the second floor for security, organized around a skylit central stair, with two separate grade-level corridors for easy wayfinding and orderly evacuation; STEM labs with double-entry access from both grade sides

New building features 12 general education classrooms, two STEM labs, art and music rooms, gymnasium, cafeteria with warming kitchen and collaborative zones, learning center, and state-of-the-art technology

Precast concrete exterior textured to evoke the bark of the adjacent forest preserve, with wood-like siding and guardrails inside; restroom signage written in 20 languages to reflect the community’s global identity