Southwest Local Schools

With overcrowding and deteriorating schools, Southwest Local School District’s building program focused on building the best possible learning environments for students now and the next 50 years. This multi-building program constructed four new schools and provided abatement and demolition of five existing buildings. New construction consisted of two (2) new 72,005 SF elementary schools, a new 72,382 SF elementary school, and a 148,995 SF middle school. 

The new elementary schools have large, open extended learning areas and academic spaces to support varied learning styles, team teaching, and hands-on project work. Each elementary school has distinctive exterior brick and incorporates community historic displays on the interior. Community-use rooms are also featured in each school to provide spaces for large group gatherings or small group meetings. Additionally, there are playgrounds and courtyards with benches and greenspace for outdoor learning. The new junior school has learning communities, divided by grade level and broken down into project teams. Media centers, gymnasiums, cafeterias, maker spaces, and a learning stair are also among the features in the new facilities. All buildings were designed and constructed for LEED Silver certification.