This small, rural school district in Missouri has a poverty rate of 23.3%, almost twice the national average of 12.7%. Due to its proximity to the area’s only care giving facility, the district also has a large population of high-needs students. The district was in desperate need of a new competition gymnasium and fine arts wing, but had not passed a bond issue to fund the project in over 30 years. The existing entrance lacked access for student drop-off, had no covered canopy, and was uninviting, so a new main entrance was also desired.
The project consists of three main components: a new grand entrance welcoming students and visitors to the district, a new competition gym that nestles into the hillside and connects to the lower level of the school (previously inaccessible), and a fine arts wing that boasts a new band, choir, and music rooms. The true success of the project was the introduction of a well-resolved movement pattern that stitches the new addition together with the multiple levels of the old building, and provided ADA accessibility to previously inaccessible spaces.
