The district had two separate schools that served their small, rural student population. Both campuses needed extensive updates and lacked 21st century spaces. The new, smaller single campus school serves the district within a tighter footprint with increased 21st century program space. The design nearly eliminates non-instructional space (hallways, cafeteria, kitchen) and allows for highly collaborative learning studios within an efficient footprint.
The FOREST, RIVER, and MEADOW iconography guide young learners and visitors through the space. The abstracted natural colors and themed graphics create a stimulating and age-appropriate place for students to feel comfortable and connected.
Common spaces allow groups of students to do collaborative and project work adjacent to the primary learning space in which they are assigned. Whole student wrap-around services are located in the common zones to allow convenient access for all students. Outdoor learning spaces are readily accessible to students and faculty. A large, circular outdoor classroom space includes a lawn lecture area, tables and chairs, portable sink for wet lab experiments, and even a giant chess board!
- 11% Less Space for the District to Maintain
- Flexible Spaces and Furniture
- Safety Features
- Secure Entry Sequence
- Project Based Learning
- Innovative Space
- Outdoor Classroom
- Distributive Dining
- Award of Merit, Exhibition of Educational Environments: IASB/IASBO 2019 Conference
The district had two separate schools that needed extensive updates and faced challenges with their small rural student population.
A new K-8 school that nearly eliminates non-instructional space and allows for highly collaborative and flexible learning studios in a smaller footprint.
- Kristine Eager, Superintendent, Waltham CCSD #185
The interior design emphasizes the unique aspects of Midwestern river valleys with the FOREST, RIVER, and MEADOW iconography. Abstracted natural forms and environmental graphics create a sense of playful and student-inspired wonder while guiding young learners through the space. Confluence or merging of multiple paths into one is the basis of the design solution. The bend and widening flow of the Illinois River is recreated in the flowing social spaces of the design. Students and faculty move through the FOREST, RIVER, and MEADOW on their educational journey.
Through a $100 million bond referendum, the Edwardsville School District can provide 21st century learning environments throughout their facilities.
As a component of the April 2019 referendum, Hixson Middle School was to be expanded so that it could receive the school district’s sixth grade students after another district facility transitioned from a single grade and specialty school to a K-5 elementary school. The current middle school, originally opened in 1955, would require both renovations and building additions to accommodate the increase in student population.
From 2018 to 2023, the district embarked on a series of transformative renovations aimed at enhancing learning environments at North Technical High School. These projects ranged from upgrading security and administrative areas to creating new, state-of-the-art spaces for their cosmetology and dental sciences programs, as well as modernizing the welding shop. The renovations were designed to cater to the unique needs of students and staff, creating inspiring spaces that foster education and career development.