Project Details
The new, consolidated elementary school for Grand Rapids Christian opened to happy students in August. The school, on the site of the former Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Iroquois Middle/Ottawa Hills High School, is an amazing, state-of-the-art school for grades preschool through fourth. Sustainability was the name of the game for this project.
Rockford was able to reuse a large portion of Iroquois School’s materials, including the unique masonry and terra cotta features that made the old school a landmark. The three buildings that formerly housed Grand Rapids Christian’s elementary schools have already been repurposed into learning environments for other local institutions. And, the new school allows for greater energy efficiency, consolidated busing, and a healthier environment than the three separate elementary schools the District had been using. In addition, it houses the new GRCS administrative offices.
The new elementary school reflects the commitment to faith and community that exemplifies Grand Rapids Christian Schools. It offers additional green space, an outdoor amphitheater, jogging track, fields, and playground, all for student and neighbor use. Great care was taken to design the school to fit the neighborhood surrounding it. In addition, the Reflecting Your Faith garden is available for all to use as a meditative place of worship.
Summary
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- 2010
- Academic Facility
- 80,000 sq. ft.
