Sycamore Community Schools public school system built a new junior high school building on the same site as its recently demolished predecessor. Schaefer’s team, as engineer of record, navigated the challenges of designing on a previously-occupied site.

The new school stands two stories + covers 170,000 sq ft. Within that space, seventh + eighth grade students + educators have access to new classrooms + laboratories, media center, music suite, two gymnasiums, auditorium, cafeteria, kitchen, support spaces, and even an 850-seat theater.

The new structure was constructed with concrete masonry units (CMU), structural steel + steel joists. Architecturally, the building wraps around an outdoor courtyard and boasts two unique entry canopies that tie into the school’s aviation identity.

The junior high school was a part of a district master plan. Schaefer also designed the high school renovation, new intermediate school, Symmes Elementary School renovation + addition, and the stadium’s concessions building.