Add as a preferred source on Google

Fort Knox to Replace 63-Year-Old Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/25/21

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has announced a new elementary school on the grounds of Fort Knox in Kentucky. It will replace the existing, 63-year-old facility for Van Voorhis Elementary School with what a news release calls a “state-of-the-art, 21st-century school.”

“All of our schools at Fort Knox are well known for providing a high-quality education for on-post children, and though it’s the oldest school on post, Van Voorhis Elementary is no different,” said Fort Knox Garrison Commander Col. Lance O’Bryan. “The staff at that school have done a truly wonderful job teaching our children with the tools at their disposal, so with a brand-new facility and the latest technology, the sky’s the limit.”

Van Voorhis is one of four DoDEA schools at Fort Knox, alongside Kingsolver Elementary School, Scott Intermediate School and Fort Knox Middle High School. Construction work on the new facility will be done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Louisville District. Work is scheduled to begin during the current academic year and be finished in time for the 2024­–25 school year. The facility will measure in at 104,000 square feet and cost about $58.9 million.

“You could hear exclamations of joy across the school when we learned the new school is on its way,” said Van Voorhis Elementary School Principal Angelique Johnson. “Everyone is looking forward to stepping into a new Van Voorhis Elementary School. Teachers love the idea of collaborative spaces, and the students love the idea of being connected to the outdoors. We cannot wait.”

According to a news release, all DoDEA schools take a “student-centered, participatory and experientially oriented” approach to school design. The facilities are designed within an open neighborhood concept that allows all students in a given neighborhood to work and collaborate during the day. Each grade level has its own multipurpose space surrounded by various-sized instructional spaces for breakout group work or one-to-one instruction.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • Los Angeles City College Breaks Ground on New Administration, Workforce Building

    Los Angeles City College (LACC) in Los Angeles, Calif., recently broke ground on a new $72-million administrative facility, according to a news release. The Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building will stand four stories, cover 67,230 square feet, and play home to a wide variety of the school’s educational and administrative services.

Digital Edition