Mary McLeod Bethune Academy

Project Description

This new elementary school, for the Milwaukee Public School System, serves 600 students from kindergarten through 8th grade. The school design incorporates and encourages community use of the gym, cafeteria, library, parent center, art and music rooms during after school hours. A large skylight illuminates the main “street” corridor, connecting the after school spaces with the classroom activity areas.

PACE advocated for an interactive design process that involved the owners, employees, staff, public officials, parents, students, and interested community members in the design development of the school.

Through community meetings and public charettes (design sessions that involved all participants in early decision making), surveys of goals, and public discussions of presented work, we created an open dialogue with everyone involved, thus creating innovative and inclusive design solutions for this project.


Awards:
2007 Impact on Learning Award - Sponsored by: School Planning & Management Publication and The Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI)

Publications:
School Planning & Management - August 2007
Real Estate and Construction Review – Wisconsin Edition 2007 Edition, Volume 2

Photo Credits:
PACE Architects, Maguire Photographic

• Location:
• Milwaukee, WI
• Project Size:
• 69,000 Square Feet
• Project Cost:
• $14 Million