Work begins on school for Wayne City school system
From Illinois Business Journal news services
Work is under way on a new pre-K-12 grade school for Wayne City Unit School District 100.
The school is designed by FGM Architects of O’Fallon and being built by Holland Construction Services of Swansea. The 129,000-square-foot structure will open in spring 2016. The state-the-of-art, $20 million project will accommodate 600-650 students.
“We look forward to celebrating the visible beginning of a new milestone in the journey of the Wayne City School District,” said Superintendent Jeff Mitchell.
Mitchell was joined by the District’s Board of Education and representatives from FGM Architects and Holland Construction at the ceremony in May at the future school site. Wayne City is just east of Mount Vernon.
FGM Architects has worked closely with Wayne City administrators to design the new school, which will be built on existing school property, adjacent to the existing facility. Following construction of the new building, the existing school will be demolished to make way for the main school entry drop-off parking and elementary playground areas.
The new structure will house all grades under one roof. Elementary and secondary classroom houses will lay on either side of a central welcome center, media center and cafeteria. These central spaces form the public portion of the facility and can be opened for evening events. They also provide access to a commons space for the gymnasiums on either side of the central core. The spaces in the central core will be shared by elementary and secondary students. Music rehearsal rooms and an art classroom are positioned on the edge of the core, also for shared use. A large competition gym sits south of the cafeteria and a smaller elementary gym supports PE and athletics for elementary students as well as a performing arts stage.
In November 2010, the community of Wayne City passed a referendum to raise the local share for the new school and became eligible for additional funding through the Illinois School Construction Grant program.
