CUSD 200 architects outline phased middle-school renovations, daylighting, HVAC and locker changes

Architects from Perkins and Will on Monday gave the CUSD 200 Board of Education a detailed update on the district's middle‑school capital projects, describing a three‑issuance construction schedule, classroom prototypes, daylighting options for interior classrooms, potential removal and relocation of locker banks at Monroe Middle School, and mechanical system upgrades intended to improve indoor air quality.

The presentation, introduced by Superintendent Doctor Schuler and led by Mike Dolter, senior project architect at Perkins and Will, outlined a phased timeline that begins with enabling and classroom renovation work in summer 2025, moves into major building additions in the 2025–26 school year, and completes remaining interior renovations in 2026–27.

The timeline matters because issuance 1 (summer 2025 enabling and classroom work) must be completed before building additions in issuance 2 and interior renovations in issuance 3 can be executed without disrupting school operations. “We are in design development with a majority of the project,” Dolter said, adding that documents for issuance 1 would go to bid pending board action on the facilities consent agenda.

Dolter described a pilot for classroom technology and furnishings at Monroe: two classrooms will be fitted this semester with new furniture and instructional technology to gather staff and student feedback. That pilot will inform the design for about 30 classrooms slated for renovation as part of the summer 2025 work. “After the students and teachers have lived in that for a while, we’ll send another survey out, do a cross comparison between the pre survey and the post,” Dolter said.

Architects also presented two daylighting alternates for interior “buried” classrooms at Monroe that currently lack natural light: a skylight option and a system of pre‑engineered solar light tubes. Perkins and Will said the light‑tube option is generally less intrusive to existing structure and has a lower budget impact, but provides no view; skylights provide views and a larger “color diversity” of light while posing greater mechanical integration and cost impacts. Both approaches were described as alternate bid items that the board could accept or reject during bidding.

Monroe’s locker configuration and commons were another focus. Architects recommended eliminating locker banks currently located in the commons — an approach they said would reduce sight‑line and supervision issues and free circulation and gathering space — while studying options to relocate or re‑cohort lockers in classroom wings. Perkins and Will said principals and faculty had been consulted on the options.

Design work for building entries at Edison, Franklin and Monroe was shown in concept. At Franklin the architects proposed adding ramps flanking the main entry stairs, an elevator from the secured vestibule to the main level, and relocating the public entry sequence so visitors do not mix with students in the office/administration area. At Edison the proposal emphasizes new windows and lighter materials to increase natural light and better signal the main entry.

On building systems, architects proposed replacing aged central plant equipment at Edison and Franklin and serving classrooms with a DOAS (dedicated outdoor air system) paired with four‑pipe fan coil units to decouple ventilation from heating and cooling. Perkins and Will said Monroe’s existing air distribution (VAV) is in satisfactory condition and that Monroe work would focus on new boilers and chillers and extending air conditioning to previously unconditioned gym spaces. “The DOAS...brings filtered and tempered air into your classroom and exhausts the old air,” Dolter said, describing the ventilation benefits.

Board members asked for cost updates and reiterated the desire to see a current estimate before awarding construction packages. Superintendent Schuler said the administration expected to provide the board a cost update in the coming weeks as documents mature and the construction manager Nicholas finalizes sequencing and logistics.

The architects said work will continue to evolve through schematic and design development and emphasized that construction logistics would be coordinated with schools and the construction manager to maintain safety and minimize disruption during the school year.

What’s next: Board action later in the meeting approved release of issuance 1 bidding documents and building permits as part of the facilities consent agenda. Separate board materials will include updated cost estimates, and architects said they would return with more detailed drawings and bid alternates as the project moves into public bidding and subsequent issuance approvals.