Story

The complete renovation of the 181,000 square foot Burton Elementary and Middle School facility makes the local community and Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. proud. It is a transformation of an eighty-three year old academic monument into an innovative learning environment for the students and an essential resource for the community. Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. built the original building in 1925 and returned in 2007 to modernize and expand the facility, while preserving its historical character. The building is unique, integrating two schools, Elementary and Middle, into one facility, while maintaining the individuality of each school. This is accomplished by individual gymnasiums, cafeterias and public areas, as well as separate traffic flow patterns outside the welcoming glass atrium lobby. The Elementary School resides on the first floor, including a full playground in the school’s courtyard, an innovative media center, a 549 seat auditorium and a full service kitchen to accommodate the students for both breakfast and lunch. The second and third floors house the classrooms, gymnasium and commons areas for the Middle School. This renovation is pursuing LEED certification. Interesting LEED features include a grey water system used to flush toilets and a green roof displaying indigenous plants. The grey water system incorporates a display case where students view water reuse through clear tubes and read narratives explaining the process. The community enhancements include: irrigation to the neighborhood soccer field, resurfacing of the local track and the addition of a new splash pad for community entertainment. The building also houses a full medical and dental clinic.