Faced with the challenges of a historic building adored by the community, but in need of expansion. We responded with a carefully developed aesthetic, a LEED™ certification strategy and a creative renovation approach to capture unused space and reduce needed square footage. A carefully developed phasing plan supports construction within an occupied and fully functioning school. The project will integrate LEED™-sustainable design features.

Phase I Feasibility Study
Following successful completion of a detailed planning study to assess the needs at the Makefield Elementary School and a range of possible solutions for those needs, Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. is proceeding with the design for additions and renovations to the school. Although having received a series of renovations in recent decades, the school was assessed as potentially eligible for placement on the national register. This, along with site challenges such as excess existing impervious surface, dictated sensitive and creative solutions.

The renovations and addition are wrapped into an overall strategy seeking LEED silver certification. Systems such as a green roof, replacement of existing paving with pervious pavement, and sensitive site design, are enabling achievement of LEED credits while also reducing the pervious coverage on site, a local planning goal.

Improvements underway include renewal of the facility to accommodate operational and educational needs for the future, capitalization on unused interior space to minimize the size of the necessary addition, and designing to solve for a variety of program needs including increased academic space, a new cafeteria and kitchen, and access, accessibility, and security/control improvements.