Once in the basement, Lowell Elementary cafeteria now a room with a view – Madison.com

Now in its second century as a Madison public school, Lowell Elementary is honoring its historic roots with a new cafeteria that sets it apart from any other lunchroom in the Madison School District.

Formerly two kindergarten classrooms, the new cafeterias centerpiece is a large, original fireplace with tiles that illustrate the Jack and Jill story. The fireplace is flanked by original, built-in bookcases.

Across the room a wall of nearly floor-to-ceiling windows and an alcove overlook the school courtyard, which has been turned into a mini forest. Underneath the windows are built-in seats with drawers still featuring the original pulls. Decorative tile surrounds a pair of drinking fountains.

When we look out the windows we can see most of the mini forest, first-grader Georgia Klipstein said.

Kindergartner Ione Courtier-Hewson said she likes the space because its smaller and less loud than the old cafeteria, which was in the basement. Others were excited about the fireplace and student artwork that was displayed, which is easier to do now that the cafeteria is across from the art room.

When its not raining outside, we get to open the windows, kindergartner Hazel Gunneson said.

Its also a nicer place to work, food service worker Kim Ryan said.

When the school was undergoing renovations to make it more accessible, Principal John Burkholder suggested the cafeteria switch. While an elevator now goes all the way down to the lower level, putting the cafeteria on the ground floor makes it more accessible for everyone, including parents dropping off their children in the morning for breakfast. It is right across from the front door and a short trip from the playground, so the transition requires less staff supervision and its quicker to access, leaving more time for students to eat lunch.

Burkholder pushed to save historic features like the window seats when their removal was proposed to gain more floor space.

When a more energy-efficient front entrance was installed, which necessitated the replacement of a half round window with a new replica, Burkholder asked that the old one be mounted over the archway between the lunchroom and adjacent kitchen.

Burkholders appreciation of historic buildings may have been planted when as a youngster he attended Dudgeon Elementary School, a 90-year-old building that now houses the private Wingra School. He also said he became impassioned when he gave tours of Lowell for the schools 100th anniversary last year and some early students talked about assigned drawers in the window seats where they kept their sleep mats.

Once others saw the space firsthand they realized how the original features made the space special, Burkholder said. Chad Wiese, director of building services, said the project cost $100,000. Mindful of the historic nature of the project, district crews paid special attention to details like staining the new baseboards to match the old, he said.

They really made this vision become reality, Burkholder said about the building services and food services departments.

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Once in the basement, Lowell Elementary cafeteria now a room with a view - Madison.com