Nature Walk Phase 3

Additional Info

Award Winner : Vesta Modular

Architectural Excellence : Vesta repurposed a used 1997 3700sf 4-class building for use at Nature Walk Montessori, a private charter school, for their pre-K program. The original building was a standard 4-unit 56’x66’ multi-class with central corridor. Vesta renovated the building to modify the layout, add plumbing, and upgrade the finishes to accommodate the customer’s needs and the campus aesthetic. The custom layout, with LVT flooring and 2’x2’ suspended ceiling, includes two large classrooms with child height casework and direct access to the playground, child and adult restrooms, kitchen, utility room with laundry, entry vestibule mud room, multi-purpose space, administrative offices, maintenance, and storage room. Larger windows were installed to increase daylighting and provide the children with views of the property’s natural setting. The exterior was painted to match the existing buildings, this structure being the third modular building that Vesta has provided on the Nature Walk campus.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : Nature Walk is a private charter school, fully self-funded by the owners, and as such, they require a partner that understands their passion, needs and can-do spirit to assist in completing their dream. This project required creative thinking and true entrepreneurial work ethic to accomplish within their budget and timeframe. Vesta was able to provide an existing building with a modified custom layout to meet the school’s needs, at a lower cost and in 1/3 the time it would take to site build a similar structure. Once the layout of the building and budget were approved, the demolition and build out was primarily completed by Vesta staff, initially at Vesta’s Elkhart, IN facility and the remainder completed on the customer site in IL. Major components such as the building frame, structure and HVAC units were reused to minimize the overall cost of the project. Lighting fixtures were upgraded, insulation increased, and programmable thermostats were installed to reduce operating costs.

Design Firm Name : Greg Noeth

Engineering Firm Name : VESTA Modular

Green Building Description : As their mission states, “Nature Walk Montessori School embraces environmentally sustainable practices and is committed to fostering in its community members a lifelong respect for nature and the environment”; it was important to the customer to take advantage of the natural setting of their campus and the innate sustainability of modular construction for their new addition. They elected to repurpose an existing modular building, reducing both the need for raw materials and site disturbance over a traditional site-built project. The building was modified to enhance the student learning experience by installing larger windows for increased daylighting and views of the natural setting. Exterior doors were also added to the classrooms to allow students direct egress to the outdoors. Building insulation was increased, LED lighting upgraded, efficient plumbing fixtures implemented, and programmable thermostats were added to offer higher energy efficiency.

Installer Firm Name : US Modular Space

Occupied Date : 10/18/2021

Owner Firm Name : Nature Walk Montessori School

Production Start Date : 7/6/2021

Project Location City : Round Lake

Project Location State Name : Illinois

Technical Innovation : When the building was reconfigured to the pre-K layout, new features were implemented to enhance the learning environment for the students while modifying the structure to meet current building codes. Due to the removal of load bearing walls in the original structure, posts were added to the perimeter walls to maintain the structural integrity of the building without compromising the flow of the new layout. The lighting fixtures were upgraded to LED and all the electrical components were replaced, including upgrades to the electrical service to accommodate the kitchen equipment and a washer/dryer. Ductwork was rerouted to ensure consistent air circulation throughout. A fire suppression system was added, insulation was increased, and windows were replaced to comply with current fire safety and energy code requirements. Child height fixtures and casework were included, and one-way windows were added to the educational space for parent and teacher viewing without disruption.

Total Square Feet : 3700