Architects draw up plans for remodel, expansion

West Valley School wrapped up a community meeting Thursday with a more defined vision for expansion.

CTA Architects Engineers, along with members from a steering committee, presented five layout ideas and concluded with a tentative concept that combines desirable components from all five. The district has contracted CTA to do master planning for $26,520.

This relieves some pressure on your current space needs and looks to the future, said CTA educational facility planner Nick Salmon.

This early concept looks at the long-term needs of the district and involves multiple phases that may be implemented over several years to accommodate growth and allow the district time to acquire more funding.

The first phase would cost about $7 million and add 30,000 square feet of new construction to the existing building, which is about 60,000 square feet. This phase includes 13 classrooms essentially a middle school wing for grades six through eight two music rooms, a flexible area for eating and educational use, a teacher-preparation room, expanded library and administrative offices and a kitchen.

Currently, the district does not have a kitchen and food is prepared by Evergreen School District. Steering committee members said having its own kitchen would allow the district to provide more healthy options.

Two of the classrooms are designated as flexible spaces.

This is what we call 21st-century learning were trying to get away from just a bunch of classrooms with a hallway, said CTA architect David Koel. He noted that modern learning involves more flexible spaces.

An access road would also be built behind the school for student pickups and dropoffs and kitchen deliveries.

Optional projects would include a gym that could be used by the community and a student commons area.

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Architects draw up plans for remodel, expansion