Post by title1parent on Jul 22, 2008 6:34:58 GMT -5
Dist. 203 designs for childhood center, pool ready
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff Writer
Published: 7/22/2008 12:06 AM
Naperville Unit District 203 unveiled the final schematic design plans for its early childhood center Monday along with the latest recommendations for Naperville North pool renovations.
The two projects are part of $114.9 million in facility projects around the district. Voters approved a $43 million tax hike to pay for the projects in a February referendum.
Superintendent Alan Leis said overall, the budget is on target.
The $11 million early childhood center will be built on land the district already owns near Huntington Estates off Naper Boulevard. The center will serve preschool-age children who have special needs. Its capacity is expected to be about 300 to 400 students with room to expand.
After numerous meetings with neighbors and other stakeholders, the district's design plans show the center constructed on the southeast corner of the property with two separate driveways - one for cars and another for buses to ease concerns both about safety and traffic backing up onto Naper Boulevard.
The center will have its own playground. Most of the remaining land west of the school will become baseball and soccer fields for use by the Naperville Park District and area residents.
Other features of the site include keeping some of its mature landscaping, adding rain garden landscaping to absorb storm water, and using pavers in the bus area that not only absorb water but also attract and absorb exhaust from the buses.
"We're trying to include as many innovative ideas that are practical for the project," said Kevin Havens, director of design for Wight and Co. architecture firm.
Inside the center, 16 classrooms will be divided into four "neighborhoods" separated by broad hallways. Those rooms will have irregular shapes to make them more comfortable and allow space for group work, according to Havens. There will also be areas for art and music as well as a multipurpose room.
"We very much wanted to make a large building feel a little more manageable for the young children who will be here," Havens said.
The district hopes to break ground on the project in April 2009 and finish construction the following spring.
The school board also got a look at the latest designs for Naperville North's pool renovation, which is part of $5.2 million in projects around the school. The staff is recommending a configuration that would include eight lanes deep enough for competition and three shallow lanes that could be used for physical education. Plans also call for three diving boards, better handicapped accessibility and more lockers.
Next month, architects plan to unveil designs for the rest of North's projects as well as the $87.7 million renovation of Naperville Central High School.
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff Writer
Published: 7/22/2008 12:06 AM
Naperville Unit District 203 unveiled the final schematic design plans for its early childhood center Monday along with the latest recommendations for Naperville North pool renovations.
The two projects are part of $114.9 million in facility projects around the district. Voters approved a $43 million tax hike to pay for the projects in a February referendum.
Superintendent Alan Leis said overall, the budget is on target.
The $11 million early childhood center will be built on land the district already owns near Huntington Estates off Naper Boulevard. The center will serve preschool-age children who have special needs. Its capacity is expected to be about 300 to 400 students with room to expand.
After numerous meetings with neighbors and other stakeholders, the district's design plans show the center constructed on the southeast corner of the property with two separate driveways - one for cars and another for buses to ease concerns both about safety and traffic backing up onto Naper Boulevard.
The center will have its own playground. Most of the remaining land west of the school will become baseball and soccer fields for use by the Naperville Park District and area residents.
Other features of the site include keeping some of its mature landscaping, adding rain garden landscaping to absorb storm water, and using pavers in the bus area that not only absorb water but also attract and absorb exhaust from the buses.
"We're trying to include as many innovative ideas that are practical for the project," said Kevin Havens, director of design for Wight and Co. architecture firm.
Inside the center, 16 classrooms will be divided into four "neighborhoods" separated by broad hallways. Those rooms will have irregular shapes to make them more comfortable and allow space for group work, according to Havens. There will also be areas for art and music as well as a multipurpose room.
"We very much wanted to make a large building feel a little more manageable for the young children who will be here," Havens said.
The district hopes to break ground on the project in April 2009 and finish construction the following spring.
The school board also got a look at the latest designs for Naperville North's pool renovation, which is part of $5.2 million in projects around the school. The staff is recommending a configuration that would include eight lanes deep enough for competition and three shallow lanes that could be used for physical education. Plans also call for three diving boards, better handicapped accessibility and more lockers.
Next month, architects plan to unveil designs for the rest of North's projects as well as the $87.7 million renovation of Naperville Central High School.