Hamilton Elementary School is a Magnet School of Engineering and Technology with a focus on science, technology, and robotics. The renovation portion of the project transformed approximately 65,000 SF of outdated classrooms, administration, dining, and the media center to accommodate 21st century learning modalities and technologies, with particular emphasis on incorporating instructional spaces for the science, engineering and technology programs, including a robotics lab. The project also included 14K SF of addition that connects four buildings through a ‘Discovery Hub’, while new high-efficiency HVAC systems improved indoor air quality and lowered operational costs. The expansion plan addressed project-based learning, STEM, multiple intelligences, individual student studio/computer spaces, shared common flexible spaces, centralized administration and guidance, and a variety of indoor/outdoor teaching venues. The school was fully occupied during construction which required extra care in planning the project’s phasing. Additional consideration was given to maintaining parent, bus, staff, and service access to the site during construction, with dedicated construction access and staging areas to maximize student safety and minimize disruptions to the local community.
