Summary

Nvision provided planning, design, and construction administration services to the Copper River School District, which needed to construct a new elementary school and renovate the area where the existing high school and new elementary school connected. After extensive concept design work, Nvision created substantial efficiencies and cost savings by connecting the two facilities with a multi-use commons atrium that satisfied program requirements for both schools and served as a gathering place for the community. The two-story, 20,600 SF addition includes classrooms, a library, a kitchen that serves both the high school and elementary students, and a new multi-purpose room that is used as an elementary school gymnasium. The existing high school commons was enlarged and included a two-story clerestory area that separates the school’s program spaces and connects the space for common activities. This project utilized an alternative construction delivery method with a contractor brought on board at 45% design completion. By assembling a complete design and construction team early in the process, Nvision was able to better manage complex renovations next to other occupied facilities, integrate new and aging systems, mitigate infrastructure deficiencies through collaborative problem solving, and successfully coordinate logistics during volatile weather.