North Grove Elementary School

1. 2011 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture North Grove Elementary School Sycamore, Illinois New Construction Project of Distinction FGM Architects Inc.

2. North Grove Elementary School Main Exterior Image

3. North Grove Elementary School Main Site Diagram

4. A School by and for the Community IMAGE Planning Process: District-wide master planning engaged the community to address: rapid population growth, facility equity, and adequacy of space to meet educational program. This new school was identified as the first phase of that master plan and an Educational Specification was developed in a collaborative process with administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members.

5. Student Street and Small Learning Community IMAGE Planning Process: Continued… The same engagement workshop process was used to develop the design of the building to address the vision, values, and community aspirations identified in the Master Plan and the educational program needs articulated in the Educational Specifications.

6. Cafetorium / Community Room IMAGE Learning Environment: The sustainably-designed 91,600 SF, 468-student school has six vibrant grade-level learning communities in three two-story wings. The east-west wings intersect a gently arched north-south “student street” and pull the visitor experience from the front through the building into the landscape framing outdoor learning areas. As the wings cross to the front of the “student street” they become one-story and house more public and shared functions - student services, administration and fine arts.

7. Sun-Filled Library / Learning Center IMAGE Learning Environment: Continued… The wings’ linear masonry walls with punched openings frame “outdoor” rooms on the east and west sides of the “student street” which become enclosed two-story public spaces of the school – library, cafetorium, and gymnasium to the east and large group rooms shared by learning communities to the west.

8. Large Group Classrooms Shared by Small Learning Communities IMAGE Physical Environment: The classroom wing walls were extended to frame indoor and outdoor community spaces. Morning sun floods the entrances each day with the east facing front. North and south facing classrooms promote day-lighting to reduce energy costs throughout the school.

9. Windows Located by Building Orientation for Daylighting IMAGE Physical Environment: Continued… The natural light is controlled by roof overhangs, vertical fins and Solera glass. Indirect lighting was used in classrooms and community spaces with higher ceiling providing more even coverage/ less contrast for better eye function. Operable windows provide natural ventilation in classrooms and gathering spaces.  

10. Views Out and Daylight InLearning Communities and Student Street IMAGE Community Environment: Beyond the state of the art classrooms, this elementary school also features a parent volunteer room adjacent to the main entrance, a cafetorium with a small stage, a library with a recessed story time area, and a gymnasium designed acoustically for full school assemblies.

11. Planning a Community School IMAGE Community Environment: Continued… These communal spaces also have secure access for community use in the evening and on the weekends. In addition, restrooms on the exterior of the building adjacent to the gym are available for community use.

12. Floor plan Insert large format floor plan Note: Please add additional slides for additional floors

13. Floor plan Insert large format floor plan Note: Please add additional slides for additional floors

14. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2011 Project Data

15. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2011 Project Details

16. Front Entrance at Night