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The new Hill Elementary School was designed to replace the existing 129 year old school building. The new elementary school is located on the same site as the previous school building and was designed and constructed in a way to maintain the full-time occupancy of the existing building through the entire school year. As a neighborhood school with a long history and rich nostalgia community members, the design of the new building supports modern-day student learning while being respectful of the old building’s historical character. Select components from the existing building were salvaged, restored, and reinstalled as accents in the new building, including WPA tile and wood murals, original 1888 millwork closets, doors, and casings, and the original Nancy L. Hill School limestone plaque. The school features flexible learning environments, including project-based collaborative rooms on each floor and a learning commons that supports and provides space for STEAM and active learning modules. It also features a full geothermal heating and cooling system, reducing energy costs and improving building efficiencies and indoor air quality. The new Hill Elementary School, serving PK-5 grade, welcomed its first students for the 2017-2018 school year.
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Redefining Educational Spaces for Inspired Learning
Student-Centered Design
Principal, Pat Callahan talks with West Aurora SD 129 Superintendent, Dr. Jeff Craig about the unique approach to designing educational spaces and introducing creativity into those spaces.
Principal, Pat Callahan talks about engaging directly with students to understand their unique challenges and ensuring that the final outcome reflects the voices and experiences of the students themselves.
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