Board reviews secure-entry concept for elementary school, authorizes staff to present plans to city

Designers from Widseth and architect firm Woodside presented concept drawings and a budget approach for a secure-entry addition at the Houston elementary school and the board voted to authorize staff to present the plans to the city for permitting.

Lindsay Krenz, an interior designer who said she works with Widseth, described the proposal as “a safe and secure entry addition to the existing building” on the school’s west side that would replace the current vestibule. She said the design would create an exterior door into a secure vestibule with a controlled interior door and a reception window for quick check-ins.

Carl Larson, an architect with Woodside’s Duluth office, said the team intends to match existing brick and stone details and to keep the roof massing low so the addition remains subordinate to the school’s second-floor windows. He urged the board to focus on materiality and massing rather than color in the early concept phase.

Board members raised several site and operational concerns. Designers flagged an underground stormwater vault adjacent to the planned addition and said they want to avoid disturbing soils near that vault while finalizing footing and foundation plans. Krenz told the board a geotechnical team had been on site and soil borings/testing were conducted; she said the team will use the geotech report to refine foundation work.

The designers presented a concept project budget (which includes soft costs such as permits and special inspections) and said the construction estimate is about $488 per square foot. They said the estimate includes a roughly 15% contingency to account for soil and other unknowns. Krenz emphasized that the project budget is still high-level and will be refined as contractors and soil reports provide more detail.

Several board members pressed designers about egress and crowd flow during sporting events and performances, noting that the current entry is a primary access point when large crowds attend games. One attendee said, “That entryway is the only entryway for sporting events,” and asked how visitors and spectators would be routed without interfering with players or creating slip or fire hazards. The design team said exiting requirements and occupancy limits would guide final decisions and that doors could be programmed to remain open during events to maintain access to the gym.

Board members also asked how interior space in the addition would be used. Designers suggested a student resource or social-emotional learning room — roughly 10 by 18 feet — that could be used for small-group work, counseling or testing; the principal’s main office would remain in its current upstairs location. Board discussion noted state funding rules and that, to qualify for certain state funds, the district must show at least 51% of the added space is learning space; the board’s finance committee planned to review funding options in a follow-up meeting.

After discussion, a board member moved “that we empower Mary to go present the plans to the city of Houston.” The motion was seconded; the board verbally recorded “Aye,” and the chair said the motion carried. The designers thanked the board and said they will meet with the city and then return to refine the design and budget before proceeding to final work.

Next steps: Mary (as authorized by the board) will present the exterior concept to the city for permitting. The board will reconvene to review refined cost estimates, funding sources and any city-required changes before approving construction funding or contract awards.