The District embarked on a capital improvement program designed to support curriculum modernization and benefit all students equally. The project was part of a three-phase, $109M C.I.P. designed to re-energize the community, including a new 50,000 sf. Early Learning Center. The design included soft boundaries between traditional circulation paths and formal classroom settings, incorporated sustainable elements as a learning tool, and planned private and public zones to enhance student security and allow use of the facility by community groups during the school day.
Reading and math scores up 30-40%
The benefits of this plan were quickly apparent - reading and math scores went up for all demographics and sub-groups in the years following project completion; students with limited English or economic disadvantage showed 30-to-40-percent improvement.
New ELC enables T.I.L.E. systemwide
The breakthrough design concept was centralizing Community Consolidated School District 62 District’s early childhood development programs into a new Early Learning Center, which freed up room in existing schools for next-generation, active learning, or “T.I.L.E.” spaces (Transform, Interact, Learn, Engage).
Cost certainty across multiple phases
Wight protected the budget for later stages of its District 62 Master Plan for 633,000 sq. ft. of renovation and 115,000 sq. ft. of new construction by committing to a separate guaranteed maximum price for each program phase. Wight’s Design Led - Design Build team phased design, construction, and logistics to minimize the impact on students and educators.
Learn more about some of the schools that benefited from this project:
Jane L. Westerhold Early Childhood Center | https://www.wightco.com/work/jane-westerhold-early-learning-center/
Orchard Place Elementary School | https://www.wightco.com/work/orchard-place-elementary-school/