Hickory Creek Middle School

Frankfort, IllinoisNew Construction

Project of DistinctionFGM Architects Inc.

2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

Hickory Creek Middle School

“Cafetorium” Lights Up for Night PerformancesCommunity Environment:

A primary goal was to create a school that provides spaces for the community. This includes an arts wing on the southeast corner of the building, a cafetorium that features performing arts space, and a state-of-the-art gymnasium. These spaces are used extensively with the community that places high emphasis on performing arts and athletics.

A priority was given to make these spaces accessible to the community while maintaining security of academic areas. Architects placed lower masses in front of taller masses to break down the scale of the large 191,690 sf building for all users.

Gymnasium: Center for Community EventsCommunity Environment: (Cont.)

The school is sited next to a single-family residential area, so the academic areas are arranged slightly turned on the site to soften the appearance of the school as it is approached from the main road. Warm masonry colors were selected for their compatibility with local nature colors.

The site is landscaped with natural plantings beyond the playfields and with planters close to the building to buffer the building from the residential neighborhood.

Grade Level Houses Learning Environment:

In a community where large schools are accepted for the operational efficiencies (both high schools in the community are around 4,000 students), the district wanted to provide small learning communities within the larger new middle school. Planning of the school breaks the scale of the academic area down into three two-story academic houses of up to 470 students.

Functional spaces within each house are clustered around one large group learning area including science, resource computer labs, outdoor learning labs, and teacher planning spaces. The large group learning area allows for small group pull-out, student work display, and cooperative learning.

House PlanLearning Environment

(Cont.):

The learning community/teamingapproach meets students’ emotional needs, builds character, and increases achievement. The more nurturing environment allows students and teachers to connect.

Each house allows team teachers to give students personalized attention, and allows for curricular connections across content areas.

Student Commons Physical Environment :

The following circulation zones achieve a secure environment for users and reinforce the environment desired by the District:

Public Circulation Corridor: Allows students,faculty, and community to enter the lobby and commons which lead to the heart of the school: the media center, the gymnasium, and the cafetorium.

Semi-Public Circulation Corridor: Gives access to encore programs, such as band,music, computers, and outdoor learning labs.

Private Circulation Corridor: Maintains thesmall learning environment within each house. Three private circulation corridors correspond to each grade-level house. Stairs and three ADA accessible elevators allow everyone to move between their two-story house.

Natural Light in Band Room Physical Environment (Cont.)

A sophisticated palette of materials was selected to reflect the District’s goal of creating an environment similar to a higher educational learning environment. The materials and finishes selected are also low maintenance and will generate long-term maintenance savings.

Daylight and occupancy sensors control the lighting systems to maximize energy efficiency. The building supports both a wired network and wireless environment for personal computer use anywhere in the building and throughout the outdoor learning labs.

On-Site Design Team ApproachPlanning Process:

The architects used their trademark On-Site Design Team (OSDT) approach to facilitate a master plan for the district’s new middle school. This approach involved the participation of the community, school board, administration, faculty, staff, and students throughout the design process. Three community forums, in the format of a series of open town hall-style meetings were used to solicit active input from diverse members and groups with the community. The task force then made recommendations to the Board of Education.

Board of Education Board of Education Board of Education

Create a Vision Create a Program Create a Concept

Board of Education

Step 1Data

Gathering

Step 1Data

Gathering

Task Force

Administration

Faculty/Staff

Students

Community

Step 2

Community Forum 1

Step 2

Community Forum 1

Task Force

Administration

Faculty/Staff

Students

Community

Step 3Community

Forum 2

Step 3Community

Forum 2

Task Force

Administration

Faculty/Staff

Students

Community

Step 4Community

Forum 3

Step 4Community

Forum 3

Task Force

Administration

Faculty/Staff

Students

Community

Community ForumsPlanning Process: (Cont.)Vision (Forum 1) The cooperative vision became the base of how future decisions were evaluated. This shared experience built a sense of trust and camaraderie throughout the group. Program (Forum 2) Questions were asked to the community including, “How can we maximize parent involvement? How big will the school be? How can the district incorporate its small learning community philosophy in the school? What are the best ways to circulate students before and after school? Concept (Forum 3) Using information from the first two forums, design exerciseswere done with everyone. This ranged from in-school sessions with students of all ages, to community and administration actively participating during the forum. The result is a large, enthusiastic, and diverse group of participants that can communicate the process and ideas that have formed their new school.

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 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 W. 22nd Street Suite 705City, State or Province, Country Oak Brook, IL 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: International Contractors, Inc.Project Role Construction ManagerProject Contact Richard CassidyTitle Project ManagerAddress 977 S. Route 83City, State or Province, Country Elmhurst, Illinois 60126Phone 630.834.8043

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Details

Project Name Hickory Creek Middle School

City Frankfort 

State Illinois 

District Name Frankfort School District 157C 

Supt/President Dr. Robert Madonia 

Occupancy Date September 22, 2006 

Grades Housed  6th – 8th

 

Capacity(Students)  1,100 students

Site Size (acres) 35 acres 

Gross Area (sq. ft.) 191,690 sf 

Per Occupant(pupil) 174 sf/student gross 

gross/net please indicate 191,690 gsf/132,000 nsf = 68.8%

 

Design and Build?  No

If yes, Total Cost: N/A 

Includes: N/A 

 

If no,  

Site Development:  $3,250,000

Building Construction: $32,250,000

Fixed Equipment: $160,000 

Other: $1,020,000

 

Total:   $36,680,000

“The Cafetorium”Multipurpose Space

The challenge presented to the architects was the district needed both a cafeteria space that would accommodate 470 students at each lunch period, and an auditorium space that could accommodate an audience of 600 for the new school. The space would not only accommodate student drama and music productions, but also bring in professional theater companies such as the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

To meet the function and maintain budget, the design teams developed a concept for a single space, the Cafetorium, which serves both purposes. Wing areas, catwalk systems, audio enhancement systems, acoustical clouds, and acoustically absorptive draperies and panels support drama and music productions. Clerestory windows and large pivoting doors allow for the introduction of daylight and views to create a pleasant dining experience.

The resulting tiered space provides the benefit of smaller dining areas that are more easily managed by district staff while the cafeteria is in use. The ability to set up the room as either cafeteria or theater is supported by the inclusion of storage rooms at each tier for chairs and tables.

Community’s Involvement with Planning

“When addressing growth, the district faced the question of neighborhood schools versus grade-level centers.

Using the community / teaming approach enabled us to take advantage of both arrangements by imposing a small neighborhood feel on a large grade-level center.”

- Courtney Stillman, School Board President; Illinois School Board Journal; January/February 2006 Vol. 74 No. 1

Community’s Involvement with Planning

“You have three or four team teachers who give students a lot of attention. A team organizes a student’s day. I like developing a name and having competitions. I will get to know the student and teachers I am working with.”

- Tyler Plantz, Eighth Grade Student, Excerpt from Illinois School Board Journal; January/February 2006 Vol. 74 No. 1

Community’s Involvement with Planning

“I think communities are a great idea. As a parent, it helps my children get to know the other students a lot better because they are with the same students year after year. As a teacher, I can collaborate with the teachers within the grade levels as well as the teachers within my community.

- Michelle Piunti, Teacher and Parent, Illinois School Board Journal; January/February 2006 Vol. 74 No. 1