Operating within a tight budget necessitated creative thinking, phased planning, and future-thinking design strategies. The design for the phase one renovation focused on K-5 classrooms with space reserved to add middle and high school classrooms and K-12 shared spaces. A richly colored wainscot-height zone of paint was an important part of the do-more-with-less design, softening the scale of the shell building. A habitable courtyard lightwell was introduced in the center to provide as much natural light and access to exterior views as the budget would allow while also serving as an orientation device and safe outdoor space for students.

Measures such as working with an existing building shell, minimizing new materials and the selection of high-performance products significantly extend the lifespan of the building. In addition to the adaptive reuse of the grocery store, the project prioritizes preserving the inline tenant buildings’ serviceability with a complete re-roofing effort, necessary parking lot repairs, and remediation where some large leaks had previously taken place. These efforts not only helped the charter school to maintain existing tenants but is paving the way to incorporate a health clinic and a food pantry organization.

The project is catalyst for revitalization by creating a hub for community resiliency and elevating the educational experience for each child.