Fabyan Elementary School

Geneva, IllinoisNew Construction

Project of DistinctionFGM Architects Inc.

2010 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

Fabyan Elementary School

Fabyan Elementary School

Alive After HoursCommunity Environment:

Architects designed the school not only for educational uses, but also to accommodate community functions. Shared use of the building is provided to the park district, scouting organizations and other organizations reducing the need for redundant facilities. The most commonly used community spaces (Administration, Cafeteria, Performance-area and Gymnasium) are located nearest to the front of the building to allow teacher and staff parking to double as event parking during non-school hours.

Lunchtime Views of the PrairieCommunity Environment: Continued…

Additionally, these spaces used for neighborhood functions are easily secured from the rest of the building to ensure educational areas go undisturbed. Noisy programs such as Gymnasium, Cafeteria and Music, are grouped with distinct separations from the quieter spaces such as classrooms and Media Center. The Cafeteria features views of the natural prairie, ultimately enhancing the lunchtime environment.

Team Teaching with Lots of LightLearning Environment:

Architects worked with community members and school officials to design a school that fulfills the needs of the District and the curriculum. The school was designed in response to the “neighborhood concept” and is arranged with educational spaces creating “academic houses.” To the north, grade-level classrooms are grouped along a student corridor mirroring a neighborhood’s residences along a street. Each grade’s “home” is equipped with individual classrooms, small group rooms, a “living room” commons area and an outdoor classroom “backyard.”

Media Without WallsLearning Environment: Continued…

Widened entrances and large windows of the individual teaching areas lead to the adjoining commons “living room” space. Lockers are grouped at each “home’s” entrance off the “student street” which connects all spaces to the Media Center, Cafeteria and other shared areas. This family-gathering-like setting creates a comforting learning environment for students and faculty through interconnected rooms and spaces. The “home” atmosphere allows relationships to flourish between classmates and learning to extend beyond traditional classroom walls.

Art Loves Natural LightPhysical Environment

Architects utilized various forms of brick to blend the school with its natural setting. The brick is continued throughout the inside of the school , ultimately enhancing the goal of blurring the line between the internal and external environment.

Expansive glass windows also connect the interior and exterior environments by providing views of the play grounds and fields and the natural open prairie and flood the rooms with natural light during sunny days. Playful windows on the second level frame interior views from the upper corridor and further allow natural light to penetrate the building.

Passive ShadingPhysical Environment Continued…

Daylighting and sun control techniques were carefully planned into the school’s design. Windows facing southeast and southwest require deep overhangs and vertical fins for shading. In these shared spaces, windows, shades and glass block are used to strategically diffuse the hard light to reduce glare on computer screens and book-damaging light. The angled academic wings capture northern light in all team teaching commons areas.

Planning a Community SchoolPlanning Process:

Commissioned by the Geneva CUSD 304 to evaluate current school conditions, architects worked with community members and school officials to develop a district-wide master plan. Through this process, schools were carefully scrutinized to determine functionality and feasibility to maintain operation in anticipation of projected enrollment figures. An overwhelming theme arose relating to a community concern regarding new school construction. “Box” schools that had become the norm no longer met the expectations of parents, faculty and community members seeking an alternative to over-populated, “bussed-in” educational spaces. FGM listened to the community and designed the “neighborhood school.”

Planning a Community SchoolPlanning Process: Continued…

The architects held a series of Community Forums to gather information about what the community desired in the new school.

Subsequently, the needs of the District and the ideas of the Community Forum participants were incorporated into the design of the new school. The result was an elementary school that perfectly blended the students’ needs and community functionality.

Floor plan

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2010 Project Data

Submitting Firm : FGM Architects Inc.Project Role Architect of Record / Design ArchitectProject Contact Jim Woods, AIA, REFP, LEED APTitle Executive Vice PresidentAddress 1211 West 22nd Street, Suite 705City, State or Province, Country Oak Brook, Illinois 60523Phone 630.574.8300

Joint Partner Firm: N/AProject Role N/AProject Contact N/ATitle N/AAddress N/ACity, State or Province, Country N/APhone N/A

Other Firm: N/AProject Role N/AProject Contact N/ATitle N/AAddress N/ACity, State or Province, Country N/APhone N/A

Construction Firm: Bovis Lend Lease, Inc.Project Role Construction ManagerProject Contact Jeffrey ReimerTitle Executive Vice PresidentAddress 1 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 850City, State or Province, Country Chicago, Illinois 60606Phone 312.245.1515

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2010 Project Details

Project Name  Fabyan Elementary School

City  Geneva

State  Illinois

District Name  Geneva Community Unit School District 304

Supt/President  Dr. Kent Mutchler, Superintendent

Occupancy Date  August 2009

Grades Housed  K-5

 

Capacity(Students)  600 Students

Site Size (acres)  13 Acres

Gross Area (sq. ft.)  104,000 SF

Per Occupant(pupil)  $34,528.33

gross/net please indicate  104,000 gsf / 66,000 nsf = 158%

 

Design and Build?  No

If yes, Total Cost:  N/A

Includes:  N/A

 

If no,  

Site Development:  $1,963,000

Building Construction:  $20,717,000

Fixed Equipment:  $1,580,556

Other:  

 

Total:  $24,260,556

A Community’s Center

A Community’s Center

A Community’s Center

A Community’s Center

A Community’s Center