Certain areas of the building required more attention due to the storm damage. New features were added throughout the facility. The reimagined family center exhibits a 44-foot custom Luckey Climber at the heart of its radial design, with surrounding multi-use areas. Terraced seating platforms, playful stretches of berm, mini putt-putt, café seating around a fireplace, and a complimentary coffee kiosk are new amenities that can now be found. Adjacent is 'The Pavilion,' a multipurpose studio providing space for programs and events, with garage doors installed along its length to extend activities into the newly-energized family center space. In addition to these updates, the existing racquetball courts were converted into a tumbling center with an improved viewing area for onlooking parents.

An expanded family-friendly locker room was created to allow more space and supervision, equipped with private changing rooms and showers, increased vanity space, and accessible phenolic lockers with re-settable combination locks.

An aesthetic refresh was implemented throughout the redesign of the building, creating a bright and inviting space for all to enjoy. These details are visible in every corner of the facility, but boldly stand out in spaces like the iconic YMCA-branded waterwall feature that adorns the lobby, updated to reflect the new color scheme and logo. Various interior finishes breathe new air into the facility, including sleek ceramic tile flooring on the first floor, high-performance carpet and rubber athletic flooring on the second floor, a lustrous poured track surface, beautiful wall graphics, energy-saving LED lighting, modernized functional furnishings and millwork, as well as updated play structures and sprays in the indoor pool area.

Read more about Schaefer Architecture and the work we did with Greater Wichita YMCA to restore and improve the Andover YMCA after disaster struck.

During phase two, ten classrooms were added to the facility, and site development was carried out to increase the building's capacity projections. The completed building accommodates 570 students in the Pre-K through 5th grades and is located on post at Fort Riley, primarily serving students from military families.

Each classroom wing features a centralized collaboration space, offering flexibility for group and individual learning opportunities. The building program hosts a variety of spaces such as, a multipurpose room with a stage, cafeteria,  media center,  flex lab, music room, and administration spaces. Nestled between the classroom wings is a fenced in play area, which includes dedicated playgrounds for the different grade levels. Safety and security are addressed through a secured visitor entry and storm shelters for the entire building population.

Aside from the plethora of interior updates, updates were made to meet both ADA standards and current KDHE licensing requirements. The additional square-footage added allows for the Early Learning Center to expand from eighty-two (82) to ninety-eight (98) children, which helps to meet the high demand for childcare in the community.

The Central and Woodlawn branch was the prototype for CUA's new branch look. A tall glass central lobby and bright green with blue accent colors make for a friendly and welcoming environment. The blue light around the perimeter of the ceiling cloud gives a glow to the building, especially at night. These lighting details  accentuate and set this CUA branch apart from the other structures at a busy retail intersection.

Additional notable elements of this project include unique, shared storage at each grade-level to minimize class disruption and emphasize cooperation, and a competition gym for all district use, which utilizes a divider curtain so that two physical education classes can be held simultaneously.

The new school building is a major source of community pride with hundreds of parents, students, and excited citizens touring the facilities on the evening of its dedication.

The 50,000 square foot new addition replaced the existing 1950s building that has been a staple in the community for many years. Included in the new project are larger classrooms, collaboration spaces, a new cafeteria, and a new media center. The Oaklawn Cheetah logo was reimagined and displayed throughout the school using environmental graphics, and signage. Security upgrades include classroom intruder locks, cameras, and a secure vestibule. Outdoors, students can enjoy the new ADA-accessible playground and classrooms. Additional parking was also included.

A secure vestibule, classroom intruder locks, and cameras were added for student safety. Outdoor learning spaces are included for each grade level, as well as new updated ADA playground equipment. The new parking lot has replaced the existing building.

The design concept for the building is the simple organization of the program into two intersecting volumes. One volume comprises the classrooms, which is oriented true north/south to maximize proper daylight access and relate to the main circulation artery of Andover Road to the west. The other volume is made up of the public and special use spaces for athletics, technical education and performing arts. New spaces within this volume match the orientation of the existing spaces which remain. At the intersection of these two volumes is the hub, which is formed by the administration area and the media center.

Classrooms are organized by subject into two-story pods that radiate from a central circulation spine, which contains multi-use collaboration spaces distributed along its length. The north end of the spine terminates in an open lecture hall space called the “Learning Stair”. This space can be utilized for staff meetings, student groups and guest lectures, as well as a large teaching space.

the old breakroom, as well as some offices, were demoed, and a new, larger breakroom created. CUA wanted to have the ability to have an outdoor area for employees to gather and use. Deck addition involved a new concrete deck on steel structure with steel cable railings and involved cutting/removing window cutting through brick and stone facade for a door. Design intent of the deck took full advantage a of the narrow exterior space shaded by tall trees to achieve the feel of being up in the tree canopy.