In and out the windows
Julie Billiart School was enlarged and refurbished to meet the needs
of its special population, with glass features to let students see the natural
world.
BY NIKI NOHEJL
The Sisters of Notre Dame first established Julie Billiart School on
Ansel Road in Cleveland in 1954. After a few years, the school was relocated
to the 8,000-sf Arter Mansion, which was transformed into an elementary
school for students with specialized learning needs. In the 1970's, a gym
was added, and in the 1980's three classrooms, when the school expanded
its learning environment by 4,000 sf.
But the building still had some growing to do to meet current needs,
so the Facilities Committee, consisting of Paul Jance from Jance and Company
and a group of parents and teachers, administered a space utilization and
planning study for five years, resulting in plans for the new addition.
The study's purpose was to create space to meet the needs and top priorities
for the school building. Plans included adding four homerooms, a special
art therapy room, a music room, and space for small group instruction. "The
purpose of the work was to provide better working conditions for the students,"
says Jance. "It was an ongoing situation for improving conditions and
adding the latest technology to the school."
After a year of planning, Bob Bajko, from Cleveland-based Hengst Streff
Bajko Architects, joined the committee to design plans that would respect
the old architecture of the mansion and create a new addition that would
complete the circulation within the building. Bajko says during the planning
stage, one of the most important considerations was to make sure the specialized
needs of the students were met. This entailed providing more space along
with a quiet learning environment.
The building also had to meet safety and fire codes as well as providing
better restroom facilities for the teachers and students. The architect's
goal was to provide new classrooms and glass areas for natural lighting
and for letting students see the exteriors of the different buildings on
campus, which date back to 1928. "We picked up old architecture in
a modern glass envelope," Bajko says.
After approximately six-to-eight months, a final design for the new 16,000-sf,
two-story addition, along with a renovation of 21,000 sf of existing, was
completed. The addition features four homerooms with adjacent private resource
rooms, an art therapy room, kiln room, a music room and an all-purpose room.
The renovations of the existing building added new carpet, interior and
exterior painting, enlargement of an existing classroom, adding a new business
office in the basement, and modifications to the entrance.
The new entrance of JBS now serves as a more impressive entryway by enlarging
it with glass and providing ramp access. "Our entrance and atrium,
where we joined the buildings, are spectacular," said Sr. Agnesmarie,
principal of JBS. Constructing the entrance was significant because the
students now have room to wait for parents at the end of the day, and the
ramp provides easy access for grandparents when they visit.
"It changed the entry and made it more open", Bajko says. The
basement was also converted into a business office and offices for advancement
and fundraising activities. "They had small cramped offices previously,"
Sr. Agnesmarie adds.
Changes in technology
JBS experienced changes, not only structurally, but also in the tools
the students use to learn. The school received a donation from the estate
of Bertha Wiggins to upgrade the technology at the school. According to
Sr. Agnesmarie, the money was used to purchase "active boards"
in each classroom and provide for wireless technology throughout the building.
The active board serves as an interactive chalk board that uses a stylus
instead of chalk. It can also be used as a projection screen, a television
and a DVD player
When the reconstruction began in May 2005, the students arrived for their
classes eager to hear the project updates that took place during the construction
process. Sr. Agnesmarie says the daily construction reports were important
to her because they helped the students become educated about the various
construction trades and their activities. This, in turn, helped them adjust
to the changes occurring in their environment. The students were able to
become part of the construction process by signing steel beams before they
were raised. They were also taken on a tour of the site when Jance and Company's
staff thought the conditions at the site were safe. "It made it a peaceful
project and a great learning experience," Sr. Agnesmarie says.
Construction was completed in June 2006 with no delays, making the space
a suitable learning environment on the first day of school. "This project
was managed well; the project manager and field superintendent did a quality
job and finished on time," Jance says. The architect, too, saw the
project as straightforward construction with no challenges. "It was
a smooth construction process," Bajko agrees.
Building while learning
According to Sr. Agnesmarie, one of the biggest challenges for the project
was raising financing for two years through a capital campaign and private
funding. Another challenge was operating the school while construction was
in progress. An accommodating construction schedule consisting of renovating
the current mansion in the summer, constructing the blocked-off addition
during the school year, and joining the addition to the mansion via a glass
atrium during the Christmas break, to allow students to learn with no interruptions.
The project is unique, says the principal, because the mansion's old
architecture and the new addition flow nicely to create a functional learning
environment for students with special needs while capitalizing on the beauty
of the surroundings. "The flow and feeling is carried out by our new
and original building," she says.
"We wanted to bring the outside in, so we had glass areas for students
to see the beauty of nature." Jance says. "It is an attractive
building with open areas and windows."
The building was dedicated in October 2006, with Bishop Roger W. Gries
giving a blessing for the $3 million project to an audience composing of
Mayor Joe Cicero, Senator Robert Spada, various councilmen and many other
guests. BXM
Niki Nohejl is a pre-bid reporter for the Builders Exchange.
Architect: Hengst Streff Bajko Architects
GC: Jance and Company
Owner: Sisters of Notre Dame
Timeline: May 2005 to June 2006
Size: 21,000-sf addition and 16,000-sf renovation
Cost: $3 million
Vendors:
- Tech consultants, SBC Ohio, Warwick Communications, Traditional Building
Systems, Basic Computer Learning
- Asbestos Abatement, Precision Environmental Co.
- Sitework, White Top LLC
- Landscaping, Sweet Bay Gardens
- Asphalt paving, Carron Asphalt Paving
- Concrete, North Coast Concrete
- Masonry, Norm King Construction
- Masonry of donor wall, Elliott Masonry
- Steel, Heritage Steel Services
- Cabinets, Salem Mill & Cabinet
- Roofing, Willham Roofing Co.
- Finish hardware, doors, frames, Midland Hardware Co.
- Rolling Counter security shutter, Advance Door Co.
- Glass & glazing, Empire Glass Co.
- Fire extinguishers, J-L Fire Equipment
- Accordion folding, J.C. Sharp Corp.
- Elevator, Schindler Elevator Corp.
- Plumbing, Miller Plumbing & Heating Co.
- HVAC, John F. Gallagher Co.
- Electrical, Santon Electric Inc.
