Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Overcomes Earthquake Disaster

  • 07/29/14

Charlottesville, VA –A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the beginning of an era for the newly constructed Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Louisa County on Monday. School Board officials, Louisa County School administrators, staff, and members of the community gathered to celebrate the completion of the elementary school, which was destroyed by a magnitude-5.8 earthquake in August 2011. The earthquake caused severe structural damage, making a new school the best option for moving forward.

Timmons Group, a leader in multi-discipline civil engineering and professional consulting services teamed with Rancorn Wildman Architects to deliver architecture and engineering service for the school design. Timmons Group provided civil engineering, surveying and landscape architecture services for the school, which was based on the design for Moss-Nuckols Elementary School. The school will include a separate entrance for community access to facilities like the gym, and a large courtyard in the middle for future science and garden activities.

“It’s been a true pleasure to work with Louisa County Public Schools during the design and construction of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School,” said Craig Kotarski, Project Manager for Timmons Group. “To see the community move forward and rebuild after the earthquake is commendable. This has truly been a unique project to work on.” Since the earthquake, elementary students were attending school in mobile units outside Trevilians Elementary. “I know they are excited to return this fall,” said Kotarski.

For more information, visit www.timmons.com.

Featured

  • VLK Architects Receives Caudill Award for Texas Learning Center

    VLK Architects recently received the Caudill Award for its work on the Dr. Jim F. Chadwell Administration Building and Discovery Lab Learning Center for Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD in Fort Worth, Texas, according to a news release. The award is the highest honor from the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) / Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Exhibit of School Architecture yearly competition.

  • Boosting Student Wellness and Safety Through Indoor-Outdoor School Spaces

    Engaging students through facilities designed for indoor and outdoor learning and activities reflects a growing awareness of how children learn and thrive, with educators recognizing the importance of getting outside and disconnecting from technology. And, as today’s youth grapple with the urgent mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness fueled by both the pandemic and technology, along with a related crisis in youth physical health, the wellness benefits of getting outside have never been so palpable.

  • Illinois Elementary School Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

    Heather Hill Elementary School, part of Flossmoor School District 161 in Palatine, Ill., recently broke ground on a new addition to the school focused on student support and security, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers for the expansion as part of a longer-term facility planning and modernization initiative.

  • Greenheck Launches New Series of Rooftop Units

    Air movement, control, and conditioning solutions provider Greenheck recently launched a new line of rooftop units that merge the conveniences of traditional rooftop ventilators and dedicated outdoor air systems, according to a news release. The Model RT controls temperature and humidity for indoor comfort.