The New Fulton Pre-K through Fifth Grade School is a 550 student facility designed to consolidate the existing Fulton and Sandidge Elementary Schools into one new and comprehensive school.  It is designed to address the growth needs of the community and future goals of District 146.  This elementary school’s comprehensive program is a collaboration of efforts by the District 146 School Board, Administration, Faculty, Staff, and Dahlquist and Lutzow Architects, Ltd.  Meetings and interviews were held with school administration and key staff from each department.  The goal was to identify curriculum requirements, needs, standards and philosophy which would be a factor in determining the facility’s final design.

The exterior of the structure, which reflects a Prairie Style influence in its massing and proportions, seeks to respect the architectural context of the surrounding site, including the Historic District of Tinley Park.  In addition, the new school creates a campus feel for the site by relating to the materials and the architectural detailing of the adjacent Administration Center.

The new school is organized based on the primary objectives of the program.  The building plan features;

• classrooms integrating wireless technologies,
• a Media Center that will serve as the hub for the new school,
• assembly spaces including a Multi-Purpose Room and Gymnasium designed to accommodate two physical education classes simultaneously,
• early learning center
• general administration and support spaces.

The first floor is comprised of two wings.  The first wing is a single story structure that runs parallel to 171^st Street and aligns with the building setbacks of the adjacent Administration Center.  This wing is comprised of the general administration spaces as well as the Early Learning and Kindergarten classrooms.  A playground dedicated for Early Learning use is located adjacent to the west end of the classrooms.  The Media Center acts as a pivot point of the two main wings and creates an inviting image for the campus from 171^st street.  It’s story and a half volume helps to define a front courtyard between the Administration Center and the new school.  The second wing includes a 2-story structure dedicated to first through second grade classrooms on the first floor and third through fifth grade on the second floor.  It is situated between the Media Center to the north and a Multi-Purpose Room and Gymnasium to the south.  The Multi-Purpose Room and the Gymnasium are easily accessible to the community and to the playground/staging area and may be secured from the Academic Wing for after school or community use. 

The site, which is directly bounded by a residential neighborhood to the north, parks to the east and the west, and Midlothian Creek to the south, seeks to maximize green open space while sustaining several components that comprise the same site – the Bulldogs Athletic Building and the adjacent School District Administration Center.  In addition, existing and new community assets will be incorporated into the design, including;

• a baseball field with a 200’ outfield line to be used by the community and local athletic organizations
• a storm water detention area that may double as a seasonal practice field
• a parking lot that will relieve on street parking as well as improve vehicular circulation into and out of the site.
• a new two-story school that was designed to maximize open space for the school/community.

Together, the School Board, Administration, Faculty, Staff, and Dahlquist and Lutzow Architects, Ltd. have designed a new facility that not only meets current needs, but will fulfill the District’s goals for many years to come.