LCSD No. 1 gets update on new ARP Elementary design; construction documents due in March
Summary
Architects presented a design for a predominantly brick, partially two-story ARP Elementary sized for 550 students and about 80,000 sq ft. The project is at 65% construction documents with a Jan. 9 submission and a target of 100% documents by March prior to bidding.
The Laramie County School District No. 1 board on Monday recognized ARP Elementary's staff and students and received a progress update on the school's replacement building that district architects say will be designed for 550 students.
Will Wiedemeyer, principal architect with Stasis Design, described a predominantly brick, partially two-story building of roughly 80,000 square feet with flexible classroom neighborhoods, special-education life-skills suites, a media center, and a cafeteria and gym with retractable bleachers seating about 650. He said the design prioritizes visibility and collaboration, with classroom walls that can open into commons and protected playgrounds sited to reduce wind exposure.
"Right now, we're moving toward 65% construction documents," Wiedemeyer said. "We're submitting that on January 9, and we're hoping to complete 100% documents by March. At that point, it'll go out for bidding."
The plan emphasizes separate bus and parent drop-off areas, reuse of an existing bus loop where feasible, and play fields on the northeast side of the site. Interior design elements noted by the architect include biophilic materials, daylighting in the media center and cafeteria, and "neighborhood commons" for kindergarten and early elementary grades.
Amanda Hall, the district's director of elementary education, introduced principal Steve Lloyd, who said the recognition as a model professional learning community reflects years of staff work and improved achievement. Lloyd said ARP staff have doubled some achievement measures over three years and credited district support for the progress.
No contract award or final cost for the replacement was presented at the meeting; Wiedemeyer said the next formal steps are completion of construction documents and the public bidding process.
The board congratulated ARP staff and trustees thanked the design team; questions from trustees focused on classroom counts, grade-level classroom configurations and scheduling for construction documents and bidding.
