Addition and Renovation to Luther J. Schilling School

Homer Glen, IL, United States

Add To Collection

Other Projects by HEALY | BENDER

Add To Collection

Addition & Renovation to Northview Elementary School

Add To Collection

New Prospect Elementary School

Addition and Renovation to Luther J. Schilling School

Homer Glen, IL, United States

Firm

HEALY | BENDER

Type

Educational › Elementary School

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2011

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

BUDGET

$5M - 10M

The facility was originally constructed as a rural schoolhouse in 1957 with eight classrooms in a double loaded corridor arrangement. Additions were later constructed in 1960, 1967, 1973, and 1978. Prior to the most recent improvements, the school contained thirty classrooms, most of them undersized and located along narrow corridors.

Over the years, a cafeteria had been converted into additional classrooms. The library, computer lab and music rooms were located at opposite ends of a long T-shaped building. Circulation followed indirect routes with corridors that offered no interconnection. Classrooms located directly across from the gymnasium were subject to the clamor emanating from physical education classes. With multiple points of entry and a school office located at the far north end of the facility, the school lacked a secured entry arrangement. It was clear that constructing piecemeal additions over time had created an inefficient layout and a substandard educational environment. Improvements were needed to return functionality and advance the educational environment according to 21st century standards.

With the goal of locating the addition further east away from a busy highway paralleling the site, a new limited access drive was designed for bus drop off/pick up on the north side of the school to improve student safety. A new full access drive also aligned with the district’s transportation facility located directly across the highway. Site improvements were designed to accommodate future highway improvements including potential designation as a truck route which could lead to widening up to four or five lanes. A new school office and main entrance faces south allowing for a bright and welcoming entrance that visitors now identify as the main point of entry. The new main entrance also includes a secured vestibule arrangement. With the entrance and office located directly adjacent to parking and the parent drop-off/pick-up drive, security and supervision at these points were both greatly improved.

The addition houses sixteen new full size classrooms including four new kindergarten classrooms. The addition also houses two new special education instructional rooms plus multiple additional special education spaces and small group rooms. The design organized the school with a looped corridor system making the building more compact, avoiding corridor bottlenecks and making it easier for teachers and students to navigate the building. The original administration offices located on the north side of the facility were repurposed as two new Discovery classrooms. The open floor plan library in the existing north wing was also enclosed for better acoustical control and to eliminate student distractions. Two new sets of boys and girls toilet rooms were also provided in the addition. A large internal courtyard provides natural light to all interior classrooms and offers the benefit of an outdoor teaching space surrounded by the safety of four exterior walls.

A new hard-surfaced and mulched playground area is located east side of the addition. Individual playground areas are designated for the upper and lower grade levels. Storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs) were utilized including the introduction of approximately 500 linear feet of bioswales located within and adjacent to parking and drive areas. Other site improvements include a large wet/dry bottom stormwater detention basin at the southeast corner of the site, the use of permeable pavers at the main entrance and courtyard, and a 20,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system for landscape irrigation use.