Booker T. Washington Elementary School is a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy for K-5 students in Champaign. The school’s current design, developed by Bailey Edward in association with Cannon Design, serves 225 students in a two-strand environment (two classrooms per grade level); a future expansion will accommodate a three-strand approach serving 425 students.

The building features a STEM lab where students connect with professionals retained through programs such as I-STEM at the University of Illinois. The central lab is supported with administrative offices for academic coaches and STEM coordinators. Rounding out the design are a reference library and a student commons area.

Images courtesy of Cannon Design.

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Champaign, Illinois

Bailey Edward, as a long-term partner with the Champaign Community Unit School District No. 4, has performed architectural services for multiple facilities in the district including four new facilities over the last decade. Bailey Edward provided full architectural services for a ten-year health and life safety survey of nineteen schools. Associated budgets and phasing, accompanied the strategic plans for correction and renovation work. Bailey Edward continues to execute portions of the work outlined in the survey for the schools.

Current activities for the district include Associate Architect work on two new schools and four school additions. The scope includes programming, community workshops, design developments, construction documents, specifications, bidding and construction administration. Bailey Edward works closely with the contractor, Interim Business Manager and Director of Facilities to coordinate the work with school activities.

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Champaign, Illinois

Bailey Edward, in association with Cannon Design, performed architectural services for multiple facilities in the Chicago Public School (CPS) System. Through the Partnership with CPS, we have worked with numerous elementary, middle and high schools. Our responsibilities include the assessment of existing building conditions, code studies, historic preservation consultation, and building and structural repairs including roofs, exterior masonry and terra cotta restoration.

As a member of the Design Management (DM) Team for the Capital Improvement Program, Bailey Edward performs architectural and historic preservation services for multiple facilities in the CPS System. The DM Team is responsible for maintaining procedures to ensure both internal staff and external consultants are coordinated; project scopes and schedules are developed to define milestone dates and minimize disruption to educational programs; as well, architectural and engineering transfer documents are prepared for new construction, renovations and ADA accessibility upgrades.

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Chicago, Illinois

The project plan for Chicago Public Schools’ Thomas J. Waters Elementary School is particularly noteworthy for its sustainability, feasibility and practicability. In response to the school district’s needs, Bailey Edward designed an additional educational space that could be flexibly used as both classroom and recreational space.

Energy-efficient features are fundamental to the original design and therefore attend every aspect of the resulting structure. The one-story addition features low-flow plumbing fixtures, solar panels and a hydronic, radiant-floor system. Landscaping for the school makes use of drought-resistant native plants throughout the premises, including a rooftop garden. Two 540-gallon cisterns filled with rainwater provide irrigation while the storm-water-management system’s bioswales reduce runoff. With all of the conceived green building innovations, the facility is designed to meet LEED Silver Certification.

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Chicago, Illinois

Bailey Edward provided design and construction phase services for the University High School at University of Chicago. Two rooms were converted to one large dry laboratory classroom for biology education and a third room was transformed into ten offices.

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Chicago, Illinois

The $6.3 million expansion and renovation project finished in summer 2015. The expansion includes new construction of 16,000 square feet featuring a gymnasium and additional classroom space, along with the original 33,000 square feet undergoing extensive renovations.
Features of the renovated and expanded Bottenfield include a separate gym and cafeteria with operable dividing partition, a new secured front entrance, updated technology infrastructure, and expanded parking. The library and classrooms received extensive updates, in addition to updated thermal windows.

The renovation brightens up the learning environment adding new vibrance and life to the school. With the addition of a new larger gymnasium, the library was able to relocate into the old gym space providing a new double height space and abundant natural light for this essential space. The design of a full height operable partition between the gymnasium and cafeteria allows for much needed flexibility throughout the day and the ability to open up the entire space for large events.

The Bottenfield Elementary renovation was complex due to two additions constructed to improve access, function and traffic. An academic wing provides classroom space and room for special instruction.

As Associate Architect, Bailey Edward led the efforts from design development through construction observation, while Cannon Design led programming and schematic design services for this project.

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Champaign, IL

The new 63,000 square foot Carrie Busey Elementary School is a colorful education environment that is home to the Champaign School District’s hearing-impaired programs. As Associate Architect working with the Design Architect, Cannon Design, the team co-created a design which addresses the hearing-impaired program by focusing on functionality and flexibility that creates minimal disruptions and distractions through the use of well balanced color, natural day light and transparency.

Designed in clusters, Bailey Edward oversaw construction of the learning spaces which now give students and staff the ability to adapt to different learning and teaching styles. The learning environments are designed to offer space for individual or group work. Classrooms are equipped with ample technology, access to the outdoors and other resources valuable to the student population.

Special attention was given to unique planning, materials, and technology challenges to minimize noise, disruption, and distraction. With Carrie Busey’s large program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, carpeting is utilized to dampen background noise and improve acoustics.

This school was honored with a Citation of Excellence Award from Learning
by Design and LEED Gold certification.

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Savoy, IL

Baker Demonstration School is a progressive school, one that does not stop at academics but attends to the whole child. Working with the master planning firm, The Lakota Group, Bailey Edward is leading Baker through the re-imagination of their 1960’s era building, formerly the National College of Education, located in Wilmette, Illinois. This will be the first time that Baker has been able to change their environment to reflect who they are and their unique progressive educational mind frame. Creating a holistic learning environment that starts with Lakota’s nature-first master plan and continues through the arrival sequence and into the building, there will be an emphasis on creating community and experiences for real-life learning for students and parents.

Functionally, Baker’s current main entrance lacks a strong presence and is inadequate to meet modern security standards. Once securely inside, the lobby, parent and administrative areas need to look, feel and act as the primary place for the Baker community - parents, students and staff - to commingle and interact as one.

Bailey Edward examined multiple solutions to provide a secure and welcoming environment for the main entrance, lobby, front office areas, campus welcoming area and Baker Parent Organization area. Branded exterior canopies direct the eye to the main entry, a secure vestibule with monitored electronic security systems, whose openness provides direct staff sightlines to the entry and draws people into the ‘living room’ of Baker School. The reconfigured interior centralizes all administrative functions, increases the visibility of the Baker Parent Organization by bringing them to the front of the school and encourages all of the school – adults and children - to meet, interact and hang out with each other in a relaxed communal environment.

Bailey Edward’s imaginative design and professional renderings prompted a quick and generous donation to realize the new vision for Baker Demonstration School. Bailey Edward is currently working to phase the construction to coincide with the school’s celebration of both its 100th year as an institution (founded in 1918) and its 10th year as an independent organization (2006).

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Wilmette, Illinois

The mission of the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) is to ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition: a mission possible only if its laboratories and classrooms match its reputation as one of the world’s leading teaching and learning laboratories for imagination and inquiry. However, the current laboratories and classrooms in IMSA’s B-Wing had not been touched since 1978. The facilities needed to be updated to support the mission of IMSA and provide state-of-the-art laboratories for comprehensive learning.

The renovation consisted of science laboratories, lab support spaces and classrooms with full architecture and MEP services. In the classrooms, movable furniture allows for flexibility with ample lecture space and white boards. Tiered tables increase visibility to the teaching professor and white boards. Pops of blue in the classrooms and labs create a cohesive feel. IMSA’s building design does not include sealed off ceilings for many classrooms so panels were hung to lower the “ceiling” and reduce the carrying of sound.

Each of the labs are used as teaching labs and for student research. The labs are equipped with workstations, lab flow hoods and utility connections. Substantial storage systems provide space for laboratory equipment, cleaning supplies and tools. The support spaces house cabinets, sinks, sanitizing equipment and utilities.

The newly renovated B-Wing provides IMSA the facilities they need to support their student and faculty with a contemporary space for students to learn and perform research, as well as provide opportunities to entice prospective students, faculty and researchers.

Aurora, Illinois

As part of a series of a 2011 master plan throughout Champaign Unit 4 School District, Westview Elementary School, a K-5 school, needed to undergo a renovation and expansion to provide space for special programs, improved accessibility and enhanced safety.

The existing building received a new ADA entry ramp, fully remodeled administration offices and restrooms, and all new finishes. Included in the renovation was removal of hazardous material and replacement of antiquated infrastructure systems that included water lines, HVAC systems, and raceway systems. Technology and infrastructure upgrades included SMART boards in every classroom, a new intercom system, a synchronized clock system, as well as a new sprinkler system. To accomplish various program needs, a significant amount of time was spent interviewing staff about the needs for each teacher and every specialty discipline.

In addition to renovating the existing building, a new 11,000 sf. addition designed to accommodate more students, was placed at the south end of the original two-story building. This allowed the new addition to house an elevator which the original building lacked. Seamlessly integrated to the original building, the addition houses three kindergarten classrooms, three 5th grade classrooms, a gymnasium, and new restrooms.

With much needed updates, Westview is now a state-of-the-art technology leader. New upgrades and modern amenities enhance the overall learning environments and quality of spaces for both students and staff.

Champaign, Illinois