Join AIA Milwaukee for a Construction Tour of the Racine Unified School District (RUSD) Red Apple Elementary School.

As part of a large district-wide master plan, GROTH Design Group partnered with Racine Unified School District to design the new Red Apple STEAM School. The project will relocate the existing school to a different neighborhood within the City of Racine while expanding the grades and number of students served within the building. Highlight areas in the building include: the community classroom which is accessible outside of the school day via a secure vestibule, a second-floor atrium and rooftop garden providing different ways for students to interact with the science of the natural world, the STEaM gallery and multiple makerspaces directly adjacent to the library, and centralized collaboration spaces accessible to every grade level.

Details:

• Schedule: 4:00pm-5:00pm tour; 5:30pm happy hour (location to be determined)
• PPE: closed toed shoes, hard hats, safety glasses, and vests are required (PPE available in the trailer for those who do not have their own)

Presenters:

• Nathan J Schieve, Senior Project Manager, GROTH Design Group
• Dan Konzal, Architect, GROTH Design Group
• Skip Hegemann, Superintendent, Scherrer Construction
• Lara Bakker, Assoc. AIA, Energy Advisor (Business New Construction), Focus on Energy

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the City of Racine approval process, which involved review/approval of the overall project in addition to a setback variance request to accommodate the building and site development on a combined land parcel which was transferred between RUSD and City of Racine.
• Examine the coordination and consideration of life safety items as well as structural, electrical, plumbing, and exterior furnishings elements for the second-floor green roof. Pedestal pavers, irrigation, and seat walls all incorporated with areas of intensive and extensive native landscape plantings.
• Identify the unique space programming and building utilization considerations to include specialty classrooms (art, music, library, maker space) on the second floor and reduce student travel distance from first floor elementary classrooms and third floor middle school classrooms.
• Highlight the learning opportunities with custom interior signage throughout the building to utilize the building itself as a teaching tool for students and community. Panel signage, vinyl wall graphics, and unique architecture allow views inside walls and mechanical rooms.
• Reocogize the involvement of Focus on Energy team members through the design assistance program which provided financial incentives to allow RUSD to increase their energy-efficient strategies for the project. Roof top solar panels for on-site energy generation will also be installed on a majority of the new roof to reduce future utility costs and provide a unique learning opportunity for students.

Submitted for AIA/CES approval

No refunds day of event.

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