December 17, 2019

At the Dec. 16 Board of Trustees meeting, a presentation was made on the proposed schematic design for Elementary #5 to be built on district-owned property on Darden Hill Road (southeast of the Sawyer Ranch Road intersection). Construction of the school, which was included in the 2018 bond program, is expected to be completed for the 2021-22 school year. The property, which the district has owned for nearly a decade, consists of 155 acres and is large enough for future educational facilities.

A Design Input Committee consisting of neighboring residents, elementary parents, staff and community members met throughout the fall to discuss issues relevant to the project and share input on design features. The committee discussed the site, traffic, location on the property, access points, and building features, etc. This input was incorporated into the design, as were considerations raised in public meetings held earlier in the fall.

Keith Cummins from Corgan Architects introduced the schematic design at the Board meeting. He shared that priorities considered during the process included location of the property, future potential use, safety of students, incorporation of the site’s natural beauty, maintenance of natural buffers along the property lines, and drainage. Mr. Cummins presented layout, and sketches of various building views. He highlighted the outdoor learning areas and explained how the overall design fits in with the topography and natural features of the property. He also shared some interior color schemes that potentially could be used.

The next step in the design process will be development of construction documents. Construction is expected to begin in the late spring.