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.