1. Minooka Community High School South Campus Channahon, Illinois High School Project of Distinction – New Construction STR Partners LLC 2009 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

2. Minooka Community High School South Campus Main Exterior Image

3. Main Entrance Community Environment: Having failed 4 referenda prior to success in 2006, the Minooka Community High School District 111 was very sensitive to the community’s perception of the new building. The community had not constructed a new high school building since 1970, 33 years ago, and its student population was exploding. Following the election of four new Board Members in Spring 2005, the community believed its values and interests would be well represented. The new Board, administration, educational staff, students, all local government and community members worked with STR to revise their previous high school design to incorporate the values of participants. Also a referendum strategist was engaged for voter research to position the District for referendum success.

4. 3-Story Academic Wing Community Environment: Continued To address the Community’s objectives of fiscal responsibility, economy and an emphasis on education, the building design evolved, over time, to become a compact, no-nonsense layout emphasizing educational spaces. Incorporated in the design are bike paths, decorative screening of adjacent residential properties, and roadway modifications for traffic safety. The new building’s facilities, such as the gymnasiums and cafeteria, are made available to the community and were designed such that community access would be possible without sacrificing building security. Outdoor play fields and naturally landscaped prairie habitats are accessible to community members. The new high school anchored both residential and commercial developments along the state route where it is located.

5. Tiered Technology Classroom Learning Environment: An indication of the school district’s progressive approach to education is its integration of technology into curriculum. Throughout the process, the Technology Director was actively involved in ensuring that accommodations for technology now and in the future would be included in the building design. The building is equipped throughout with wireless and hard-wire connectivity, allowing students, teachers and administrators access throughout the building. All classrooms are outfitted with flat-panel monitors and “Smartboards.” Labs are equipped with ceiling mounted projectors. Classroom design, with the exception of science and other labs were conceived to be universal teaching spaces, allowing for a variety of instructional uses and the potential for changing educational delivery methods. Most typical classrooms are located on the building’s perimeter with large windows to the outside. Science and other lab-type spaces are located in the core of the building for flexibility of having significant wall space available for cabinets and equipment.

6. Learning Center Learning Environment: Continued Two ground-level art rooms share storage space and a kiln. A small greenhouse and two classroom on the south side accommodate the horticulture program. The learning center is located as a double height space starting on the academic wing’s second floor. The learning center’s location and openness conveys access and availability to students. The district’s robust sports program is reflected in the building’s two gymnasiums, weight and fitness rooms and health classrooms, built in Phase I.

7. Cafeteria Physical Environment: Because of Illinois’ long winter, natural light played an important part in the genesis of the building. Classrooms were designed with large windows. Exit and interconnecting stairs include either skylights or curtainwall glazing. The cafeteria dining space is illuminated with a glass clerestory. Both the competition gym and auxiliary gym admit diffused light through translucent clerestory panels. The building’s exterior was designed to present a crisp clean appearance. Two colors of face brick, aluminum window frames and blue-green high- performance glass, metal panels and siding and load-bearing precast panels were incorporated into the composition of the building’s exterior. Highlighting public spaces, such as the cafeteria, entry lobby and interconnecting stair, on the interior is the same face brick used on the exterior.

8. Interior Corridor Physical Environment: Continued Incorporating lessons-learned from their existing 1970’s high school, the corridors of the new school are wide, allowing for ease of movement during passing periods. The cafeteria space is generous to permit the use of round tables to promote student interaction and social etiquette. Two levels of illumination are available in classrooms to teachers in response to the variety of teaching methods and media used. Horizontal sliding fire doors on the ground floor, function both as fire separation and as a means to separate and secure the 3-story academic wing from the public areas of the school during non-school hours to allow maximum use by the community and for athletic events. Plantings of native plant materials in storm water detention areas were conceived as prairie environments and habitats for wildlife.

9. Science Lab Planning Process: Having lived with and knowing intimately the shortcomings of their existing high school and its campus, Board of Education members, administration and staff had many meetings with STR Partners to convey their concerns and requirements for the new building. The District had developed a robust educational program and an enviable technology plan and was very eager to create a new facility tailored to their programs. Bonding limitations and enrollment projections dictated that the facility be phased. At the outset the District determined that Phase I should focus on providing academic spaces for 2,000 students, while providing the infrastructure for future phases. Several meetings between the District Administration, Board of Education, community construction manager and the architect’s team (Building Committee) were held to prioritize programmatic and building requirements in light of budget, scheduling and grade levels to be housed in the building.

10. Auxiliary Gymnasium Planning Process: Continued Through this very interactive process, the school’s academic focus was expressed in a prominent three-story academic wing. To reflect the “transparency” and accessibility to administrators, the office portions feature large glass areas visible to the public. Traffic safety, a very important concern, was manifest in separate bus and car drop-off/pick-ups and with intensive meetings with the village, adjacent residents and the Illinois Department of Transportation to ensure good, safe traffic flow both on and off site. During construction, monthly meetings of the District’s Building Committee were held to ensure continuity of support by of decision making personnel, design professionals and construction professionals. During the “break-in,” close-out and post occupancy periods, the Building Committee continued to play a role in reinforcing and conveying success in meeting project objectives.

11. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Data Submitting Firm :STR Partners LLC Project RoleArchitect Project ContactJan T. Taniguchi, AIA, CEFPI, REFP, LEED AP TitlePrincipal Address350 W. Ontario Street, Suite 200 City, State or Province, CountryChicago, IL 60654 Phone312-464-1444 Joint Partner Firm: Project Role Project Contact Title Address City, State or Province, Country Phone Other Firm: Project Role Project Contact Title Address City, State or Province, Country Phone Construction Firm:Turner Construction Project RoleConstruction Manager Project ContactGary Hill TitleProject Executive Address55 E. Monroe Street, Suite 3100 City, State or Province, CountryChicago, IL 60603 Phone312-327-2860

12. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Details Project Name Minooka Community High School – South Campus City Channahon State Illinois District Name Minooka Community High School District 111 Supt/President Dr. David Middleton Occupancy Date August 2008 Grades Housed 9-10 Capacity(Students) 2000 students Site Size (acres) 67 acres Gross Area (sq. ft.) 279,000 sf Per Occupant(pupil) 139.50 SF/Student gross/net please indicate Gross Design and Build? No If yes, Total Cost: Includes: If no, Site Development: $ 3,983,000 Building Construction: $41,608,000 Fixed Equipment: $ 2,901,000 Other: $ 4,433,000 Total: $52,925,000

13. Phase 1 Site Plan Phase I was planned to accommodate 2,000 students in grades 9 and 10. As the population increases, the building will covert to a stand along 9 through 12 high school. Future building phases will include a field house, auditorium, music department, culinary arts and drivers education. Future site phases will include a football/soccer stadium, track, baseball stadium, softball stadium, practice fields parking and traffic signalization.

14. Art ClassroomCompetition Gymnasium

15. Entry Canopy Flanked by Administrative and Counseling Offices