Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Gemini Middle School Reveal New Changes, Continues Construction

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 09/13/19

Gemini Middle School, outside of Chicago, debuted several changes as they began this school year. Formerly known as Gemini Junior High, the school unveiled new renovations as they welcomed their doors to more than 1,000 students from 6th to 8th grade.

The new student commons at Gemini Middle School is filled with natural light.

The expansion and remodeling cost $33 million and is expected to be fully completed by the end of the year. The middle school renovations were designed by DLA Architects.

“We’re really excited about the new spaces that we have created that are going to provide fun, exciting and collaborative learning opportunities for students,” Principal Lewis Roberts told the Chicago Tribune.

“We’ve also spent a lot of time thinking about how students learn...the 21st century learner, and what students are going to need to prepare them not only for high school, but for life skills.”

Gemini Middle School, outside of Chicago, debuted several changes as they began this school year including an expanded cafeteria with learning stairs.

Features of the school include:

  • A new fitness center;
  • An expanded cafeteria with learning stairs;
  • An instrumental music suite;
  • An interior courtyard;
  • An auxiliary multi-purpose room with a stage; and
  • Kitchens for home economics.

The entrance will have the school mascot, along with blue and gold school colors, on the windows. The new student commons is filled with natural light. There are more writable surfaces located throughout the school to encourage expression and learning. In addition, there are numerous plugs to charge student-issued Chromebooks.

Upgrades to the middle school began when East Maine School District 63’s launched their master plan in December 2016. More than 100,000 square feet of space was part of the upgrades.

 

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • DLR Group Hires Three for Higher Education Practice

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has brought three new hires on board to help shape its higher education practice in California and the northeast, according to a press release.