Founded in 1846, the City of St. Charles School District has been a cornerstone of the community, contributing significantly to the city’s rich history. As the district prepared to renew an upcoming proposition, it recognized the necessity of developing a comprehensive long-range facilities master plan to ensure the prudent allocation of district funds.
The initial phase involved conducting an in-depth physical needs assessment (PNA) of all district facilities. This assessment was crucial in identifying current needs and prioritizing projects, ranging from minor fixture replacements to major building remodels. BLDD Architects recommended evaluating the PNA through a cost-per-square-foot analysis, which highlighted the buildings with the most pressing needs. This PNA data became a pivotal resource for the district’s proposition on the upcoming spring ballot.
With approximately 5,000 students in two high schools, one middle school, one intermediate school, six elementary schools and an early childhood center, the district needed to analyze the current conditions in order to prioritize and allocate funds for the future.
A physical needs assessment, functional evaluation, and space utilization study gave the district a solid foundation of real data with which to proceed.
In addition to the physical assessment, BLDD conducted a functional evaluation of the district’s facilities to determine how well the spaces met educational requirements. While the general condition of the buildings was satisfactory, the educational environment received lower marks, with many spaces deemed borderline in terms of functionality for the district’s educational programs.
A space utilization study further analyzed the buildings by examining both the number of students per classroom and the ideal number of classrooms each building should have if they maintained consistent section sizes. BLDD compiled and reviewed this data with the district, providing valuable insights for the district and community.
PROCESS RESULT: Successful April 2025 passage of Proposition SCSD, resulting in $90,000,000 for the district.
In January 2019, Mehlville School District embarked on an ambitious journey to reimagine its facilities for the next generation of learners. What began as a grassroots effort to assess facility needs has transformed into a $35 million comprehensive campus improvement initiative that touches every school in the district—all without increasing the tax burden on local residents.
In 2017, District 186 embarked on a two-year comprehensive master plan that led to a successful sales-tax referendum. The journey involved the coordination and cooperation of many entities with differing missions uniting for a common goal.
Understanding that early childhood students demand a different type of learning environment than their elementary school peers, the City of St. Charles School District established criteria for their new facility that was based on sensory learning, movement, imagination, and nature.