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Design AchievementDLR Group was hired to assist the CenturyLink Center to take advantage of the success of the facility by adding more seats to stay competitive with other top-notch venues in the Midwest.The new seating addition to the existing CenturyLink Center Omaha boosts the capacity for basketball games from 15,800 to 17,500 seats. The addition includes additional toilet and concession facilities that accommodate the new seating capacity and adds a new upper level concourse now encircling the upper deck. Scope SummarySome of the architectural features include:- Upper deck seating that now encircles the event floor 360 degrees.- New concourse that connects previously separate east and west upper concourses.- The new addition maintains "open" feeling of the main concourse gathering areas.
Group partnered with the Baldwin City School District and community to develop a plan to update aging, outdated facilities, increase safety and security, and improve the learning environment for all students. The community support a $22.9 million bond referendum in 2008 to fund a new primary center, a performing arts addition at the high school, improvements at the junior high school including a new HVAC system, district-wide technology upgrades, and a new baseball diamond and track so high school students no longer have to use the facilities at Baker University.The primary intent of the new 16,008 SF Performing Arts Center was to connect the existing Junior High and High School buildings together to one day form one, unified High School campus. During this initial phase, the 600- seat Performing Arts Center will service both schools Music and Drama performances. The new Baldwin Performing Arts Center will also serve as a FEMA 361-compliant storm shelter for both the Junior High and High Schools, up to 2,000 people.   The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved grant funding for two FEMA Safe Rooms. The first grant of $603,992 funded a safe room in the new Baldwin City Elementary Primary Center’s media center. At 4,500 square feet, the safe room is large enough to accommodate the Primary Center’s 640 students and its faculty.   The second grant of $3,422,063 funded a 16,100 square foot safe room at the new Performing Arts Center to accommodate 1,800 students and faculty in Baldwin City’s junior high and high schools, as well as guests attending performances at the Performing Arts Center.
The third addition consists of a new 320-bed cell housing unit, covered walkways from the existing corridor system to the two newest housing units, parking lot expansion and re- striping, roadway modifications, and site work related to the expansion, and two new pre-engineered buildings for warehouse and storage. The perimeter fences/detection system, perimeter roads, and perimeter security lighting were relocated to accommodate the new housing unit. For project description of full facility, see project no. 50-90147-05
Independence Intermediate School The new intermediate center includes eight classrooms for each grade level, a discovery area, teacher planning center and an additional classroom for science or computer learning in each wing. The school is a site adaptation of a previous DLR Group design, with modifications to meet the District’s specific goals. The administrative area, commons, gymnasium and media center are located opposite the learning area to allow public access without compromising security. A multipurpose room adjacent to the commons provides space for community use after hours.
Independence Middle School Independence Middle School is an important community building constructed in 1922. Key project goals are to respect and maintain Independence Middle School’s traditions and history; provide an environment for quality, meaningful, and vital learning; provide larger, updated classrooms; improve acoustics in corridors, music rooms and classrooms; and update building systems. Integrated architecture and engineering design services for this project included life cycle cost analysis of all systems, an important component in meeting the Owner’s budget and performance goals for the project. The upgrades to the 119,798 square foot building include window replacement, HVAC and plumbing replacement, toilet room remodel, electrical upgrades, and new flooring and ceilings. Life safety and ADA changes will include a sprinkler system, new fire alarm system, egress lighting, and accessible door hardware. Heavy renovation will occur in the existing auditorium, media center, small gym and cafeteria.
n the spring of 2014 Topeka, Kansas USD 501 passed a $143 M bond issue for safety & security improvements including storm shelters, a staff professional development center, consolidations of elementary schools with new construction, enhancements to middle school and high school programs with special attention to create equitable facilities designed for specialty populations of challenged and gifted students. When the bond issue passed DLR Group was retained to act as their program managers for the organization and management of the facilities portion of the work. DLR Group worked with the district facilities, procurement and financial offices to create and maintain the protocol, program and budget of all the projects. When complete in the fall 2019 the work will span 5 years, 26 projects, 8 architectural firms, 14 engineering firms, and 9 general contractors. The delivery of construction ranged from Design Bid Build to Construction Manager as Constructor (at risk). While the district continued to educate their 14,000 students, DLR Group worked with district staff and local professionals to build 14 new storm shelters, 245,000 sf of new construction, 280,000 sf of renovated construction, 116 renovated classrooms and added 113 new classrooms. All this work will be completed under budget. The district will have the ability to pay for the program management services (not originally budgeted) and still have $6M in surplus, with only 2 projects to complete 2019.
Design Achievement – The Cheney community recently supported a bond campaign that will update and upgrade the learning environment and programs at the elementary school, middle school, and high school. DLR Group's design responds to the latest innovations in education tailored to fit the Cheney community and has the ability to respond to the changing demands of next generation. The high school and middle school are currently linked by a standard corridor, the new career center will be developed along this corridor to provide increased visibility to the career center for high school and middle school students. The media center will be become an anchor for the career center – enhancing the link between the collaborative spaces and the media center. Small collaboration rooms (think tanks), open flexible space, and student displays will provide students with space and resources for a hands-on learning environment. Project based classrooms and a recording studio will be within the addition adjacent to the media center. At the opposite end of the corridor, the center of the middle school will be opened for both project based and collaborative spaces. Sliding doors with markerboard surface and think tanks will provide tools for small group study sessions. Project labs provide flexible studio—like environment to support a variety of configurations including but not limited to group gatherings, presentations, demonstrations, project-based learning activities. Scope Summary – The bond projects for Cheney School District will provide opportunities to impact the entire community and help shape the future for generations of students to come. The scope includes a new career center connecting the middle school and high school, renovated classrooms at the middle school and high school to support project based learning, a new media center adjacent to the career center, renovations to the auditorium that will also serve as a community FEMA shelter, and new secure entry vestibules. The elementary school will undergo renovation of administration, reorganization of early childhood spaces, and a new gym and music room. DLR Group provided architecture, planning, landscape design, mechanical, electrical and structural engineering services.
Design Achievement - Rapid growth and success prompted Sunlighten to renovate a former newspaper building into a beautiful headquarters facility celebrating health and wellness. DLR Group's design reuses the building's existing structure and envelope, but with significant improvements that convey a bright, inviting, progressive architectural identity for the company. Instead of a traditional showroom, the design employs a series of vignettes simulating a variety of environments such as a fitness center, hotel room, or outdoor patio to showcase their therapeutic products. Furthermore, office areas are supported by wellness amenities including a relaxation room, creative room, fitness center, outdoor patio, and kitchen. Scope Summary - This project encompassed exterior and interior renovations of a 41,000 SF former newspaper building to accommodate office, amenity, spa, and showroom functions. In addition to the transformation of spaces, upgrades included new energy efficient glazing and high-tech exterior building signage. Interiors encompassed space for Sunlight Saunas on the second floor and part of the first floor, with the remainder of the first floor available for future office expansion or as lease space for another tenant. DLR Group provided architecture, interiors, MEP engineering, structural engineering, and landscape architecture services.
Design Achievement – The Independence School District challenged DLR Group to modernize its existing high school to enhance the student learning environment. A new main entrance with an administrative wing and media center creates a new identity for the high school. An entrance axis separates the public administrative wing and academic areas to allow secure access by the community for after hour use. Extensive renovations to the existing classrooms and science laboratories create a modern learning environment for students and teachers with multiple small group and project-based learning spaces. Scope Summary – The scope for this project encompassed renovation of a 166,468 SF high school serving 1,860 students in grades 9-12. The upgrades included a new main entrance with administrative offices and a media center, a new 1,800 seat competition gymnasium, and a new performing arts center with adjacent spaces for band, choir, dance, and theater. The scope included extensive renovations and upgrades to the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems to provide energy efficiency and decrease operational and maintenance costs. DLR Group provided integrated planning; architecture; and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural engineering services for this project.
Design Narrative - As the second largest community college in Kansas and sixth largest education institution in the state, Butler Community College wants to be the college of choice for the region. As part of this process they desired a Comprehensive Master Plan that supports student learning and contributes to a high standard of student life, creates a campus environment and building facilities that promote student-faculty interaction, and improves the utilization of college space and recommends efficient programmatic adjacencies. The College aims to encourage community engagement and promote partnerships with area businesses and schools. Working closely with representatives from Butler Community College, the Master Plan supports the College’s Strategic Plan and Mission, guides future development on the Andover and El Dorado Campuses, and provides enough flexibility to adapt to the inevitable changes over the 20-year Vision. The proposed plan strengthens way-finding, reduces potential pedestrian/vehicle conflicts, improves and adds open space, and provides a more welcoming campus entry experience. Building improvements involve light to heavy renovations, some demolition and select new buildings and athletic amenities. The plan also addresses the campuses two remote locations in efforts to improve both safety and accessibility. Scope Summary – The development of the Comprehensive Master Plan encompasses 2 campuses, almost 150 acres and 28 total buildings and involved the assessment of all existing building spaces and overall campus site areas at both campuses. The assessments involved the conditions analysis of existing building construction and mechanical/plumbing/electrical and technology systems, building code and accessibility compliance. A space utilization analysis of existing teaching spaces, classrooms and labs was conducted to understand the college’s current use of the spaces and provide a benchmark for future development as enrollments change. DLR Group provided master planning services in conjunction with Gravity::Works Architecture.
Design Achievement – With plans to expand an existing Middle School to a PreK-8 campus, Topeka USD 501 was committed to applying several guiding principles to this projects design: flexible, creative and safe spaces that support engaged learning while instilling a sense of pride and ownership in the school. The design for the new Jardine Academy would serve as a prototype for other district facilities. DLR Group was tasked with the challenge to expand the existing 1960s middle school into a modern Pre K-8 school facility integrating a 21st Century learning environment, blurring the lines of new and old, meshing all parts of the building into a unified new PK - 8 school environment. Reflecting the school’s emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, English, Arts, & Math), the new learning environment combines flexible classrooms with open discovery areas for collaborative team teaching. Design flexibility allows learning environments to be easily adapted to new curriculums. A new light-filled entry corridor acts a multilevel atrium connecting the existing Middle School to the new Elementary School and provides a gallery like space that displays both student work and academic activities. Two new media centers are located off the central circulation atrium on different levels which become a connection for upper and lower grade students to experience the new addition while creating age appropriate separation of function. Scope Summary - The new prototype Pre K-8 school contains over 124,000 SF of new space to serve 660 students in grades Pre K-5 elementary program and another 550 students in grades 6-8. The new two-story wing contains two elementary grade pods accommodating three grade levels each (Pre-K, K-2 on the lower level and 2nd - 5th on the upper level), while the renovated middle school provides three 6-8 grade pods. Each new pod contains flexible classrooms and furniture, and an open discovery area to facilitate group learning. A dedicated commons space is connected to the gymnasium by a moveable wall, which when opened, creates one large event space for school or community use. Outdoor learning spaces allow collaborative and hands-on learning with three courtyards and outdoor classrooms. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, and landscape design services in partnership with SDG Architects.
The design of Leavenworth Intermediate Center was in response capacity issues at Richard Warren Middle School. The building is organized around a series of collaboration spaces as well as a Media Hub at the center of the school. The Cafeteria Commons becomes the connection back to the Middle School that spans the stream, while the north façade responds to student drop-off and visitor parking with a secure entrance vestibule that is locked down during school hours and is controlled by the adjacent administrative staff. The Intermediate Center cafeteria will be supported by a reconfigured food preparation at the existing building, a new serving area will supplement the additional students. An open central stairway connects the first and second floors and the connecting corridor across the spine serves as a central observation point for activity going on throughout the building. Learning Communities are oriented towards the east end on two floors and access abundant northern daylight, plus an additional area to the west on the upper floor. Class areas are broken into groupings that surround flexible collaborative areas. Services Provided: DLR Group provided architecture, landscape architecture, structural engineering, and interior design services.
Design Achievement – A new lively sports hub has been created through the New Century Fieldhouse. It provides field and court space for a large booming regional sports community continually in need of year-round practice and game space. Johnson County Park and Recreation Department purchased as an investment a new, but incomplete and unoccupied warehouse building with the hopes of turning the building into an indoor fieldhouse to help them meet the space demands of their programs. DLR Group designers completed the programming and offered them many solutions within the restricted space and high limitations of this existing building shell to maximize their multi-use court and indoor soccer field spaces and program needs. The fieldhouse offers the space and fan amenities for the owner their community often not available. Scope Summary – This 89,000 SF indoor field house includes two large field and multi-court spaces for soccer, basketball, volleyball and futsal. A two level mezzanine space and pedestrian spine divides the two main playing spaces and provides sports observation areas from both the sidelines and above. One large multi-purpose room able to accommodate 130 persons and four smaller party rooms give the fieldhouse a more multi-use appeal with opportunities for parties, banquets, classes and meetings. A reception area and lobby, elevators, stairs, a main office, concessions and public restrooms are included. Designers used interior building colors and large graphics to provide vibrancy and simplicity while enhancing the spaces. The project is the first public recreation center in the KC metro area to receive any LEED certification, achieving LEED Gold.
Design AchievementRapid growth and success prompted Sunlighten to renovate a former newspaper building into a beautiful headquarters facility celebrating health and wellness. DLR Group’s design reuses the building’s existing structure and envelope, but with significant improvements that convey a bright, inviting, progressive architectural identity for the company. Instead of a traditional showroom, the design employs a series of vignettes simulating a variety of environments such as a fitness center, hotel room or outdoor patio to showcase their therapeutic products. Furthermore, office areas are supported by wellness amenities including a relaxation room, creative room, fitness center, outdoor patio and kitchen. Scope SummaryThis project encompassed exterior and interior renovations of a 41,000 SF former newspaper building to accommodate office, amenity, spa and showroom functions. In addition to the transformation of spaces, upgrades included new energy efficient glazing and high-tech exterior building signage. Interiors encompassed space for Sunlight Saunas on the second floor and part of the first floor, with the remainder of the first floor available for future office expansion or use as lease space for another tenant. DLR Group provided architecture, interiors, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, and landscape architecture.
Lawson Early Education Center is a product of Leavenworth USD 432’s efforts to bring better access to early education. DLR Group was tasked with transforming an existing elementary school in the district into a future ready, joyful place of wonderment at the heart of the district. As a result of bond work across the district, an opportunity arose to free up an existing elementary school and reallocate that space to be designed specifically for early childhood education. Upon entry, new administrative spaces combined with a centralized media center immediately inject every learner into future ready educational environments. By means of very strategic additions to the facility, the design team took what was once a series of corridors and classrooms and created small learning communities. Each community is equipped with a number of learning studios, indoor play space, dining and staff planning centers in order to create immediate access to all amenities needed in a day in the life of an early learner. Diverse furniture throughout each community affords students movement, sensory experience, and greater support for their day to day. Immediately adjacent to core learning spaces is an expansive outdoor play space, comprised of musical instruments, planting beds, inclusive play equipment (including a pirate ship), as well as a number of outdoor learning opportunities. Through strategic additions and a holistic campus design, what once was designed for an elementary learner has been reimagined into an educational wonderland for 3–5-year-olds.

Design Achievement - The Hospitality Management and Culinary Academy at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) is home to one of the most elite culinary programs in the United States. DLR Group's design creates a landmark on the JCCC campus and uses transparency, both inside and out, to expose student work, create awareness, and spark an interest in the culinary program. Prior to building a new facility, the culinary program was tucked away in a general classroom building, hidden from the majority of the student population. This new facility celebrates JCCC's award-winning program and puts all aspects of culinary and hospitality education on display. The building is organized around a linear lobby which provides views into all cooking labs. Glass walls allow students to show off their culinary skills, which routinely garner regional, national and international recognition. The wide, day lit lobby acts as the student lounge and provides a space for interaction between students, chefs, instructors, and the larger community of JCCC and Overland Park, Kan. Scope Summary - The 36,000 SF building features five cooking labs: Cooking 1, Cooking 2, Bakery, Garde Manger, and a Restaurant Kitchen. In addition there is a tiered floor culinary theater with seating for 75 people, library, computer lab, two classrooms, central stores/storage, and instructor office space. The building is organized around a central lobby that acts as a gathering space for student/chef/instructor interaction. The lobby spills out to an outdoor seating plaza that is used by students between classes. Following the great BBQ tradition of Kansas City, the curriculum includes outdoor cooking with a patio for grilling and smoking. The building is designed to LEED-Silver Certification. All food waste is being sent to a campus wide composting station. DLR Group provided planning and architecture services for the project.
Colorful student artwork inspired the design of Prairie Creek Elementary. A blue ceiling supports suspended cloud panels and natural sunlight pours in through clerestory windows. Classrooms are divided into pods with shingles over their double doors to resemble houses. Each of the pods has a different color scheme: purple/ gold; red/orange; and blue/ green. A multicolored floor in the hallway and tree-shaped bulletin boards give the students a true feeling of nature. An entrance axis separates the public and academic areas of the building into two spheres. The public sphere consists of administration, a commons area and the gymnasium. The academic sphere houses classroom pods, special education classrooms and the media center.
Design Achievement: The overarching driver for the design of this facility was to gain operational efficiencies relative to the old facility that it is replacing. The savings realized will be used to pay for the lease of the facility which is privately developed on state owned land. These operational efficiencies are obtained by offering programmatic services such as recreation and counseling for offenders directly on the housing units, significantly reducing offender movement. The housing units are also allowing for a more efficient staff to offender ratio even when utilizing direct supervision. Scope Summary: The two-year construction project will include a 2,432 bed, 400,544 SF correctional facility. The new construction means replacing the deteriorating facility that is inefficient to operate and maintain while also providing much-needed programming space. New housing units, additional inmate beds, new intake units, and associated support spaces are all part of the design. There will also be new dedicated spaces for medical services, food services, spiritual life, staff support areas, and indoor and outdoor recreation areas. The cost-neutral project, which will reduce operational costs for the Kansas DOC, did not require any up-front appropriation to the Kansas DOC. DLR Group provided Architecture, Planning, MEP/S Engineering, and High-Performance Design Services.
Design Achievement: Spring Hill School District strives to provide its students with the tools necessary to instill a passion for lifelong learning. Recently, the district had seen problems with the HVAC systems in two of its schools: Spring Hill Middle School and Spring Hill Elementary School.  DLR Group performed a thorough evaluation of these facilities, finding that the heating and air-conditioning systems were inefficient and outdated. The proposed design following this evaluation addressed these system issues, providing HVAC improvements based on overall value to the client. After close analysis, a variable refrigerant flow system was found to be the best option for both schools. These high performance upgrades allow for quality, cost effective learning environments in which students and staff can flourish. Scope Summary: The scope of work for this project involved cost estimating; bid negotiation; construction administration; and project close-out services.  The team also designed upgrading to the building special systems – security, IT technology, and fire alarm. DLR Group provided project management, facility assessment, energy modeling, special system, alongside the traditional mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering services.
Shawnee Mission East High School is prominently located on approximately 37 acres in the heart of Prairie Village, Kansas. The project includes additions and renovations to the existing high school building. Renovations to the existing building areas include auditorium, physical education and athletics support areas, choral and drama classrooms, FACS foods, art rooms, science classroom/labs, student commons, ramps and restrooms. The original building entrance is being renovated as a secondary entrance adjacent to student services. Building additions (46,360 square feet) include band, orchestra, and support spaces, stagecraft, stage fly-loft extension, auxiliary gymnasium, weight and fitness areas, wrestling, dance/cheer area, science and general classrooms and administrative offices located at the new south- and west-facing main entrance. The proposed design provides distinct new entrances to administrative offices, cafeteria commons, performing arts auditorium and gymnasiums. Building placement creates a forced perspective leading toward the cafeteria commons. The administrative office addition reflects the stair-stepped facade of the existing media center.
Design Achievement - Gardner Edgerton USD 231 tasked DLR Group with the job of adding a multiuse athletic center (MAC) to the existing Gardner Edgerton High School. The growing district was strapped for practice and training facilities. The MAC addition is strategically located near existing locker rooms, competition gymnasium and wrestling to complete the athletic complex at the high school. The addition provided two full-size courts that accommodate a number of athletic and leisure sports. Retractable nets and throwing nets hang from the facility to separate the gym floors and increase the functionality of the large gymnasium space. A state of the art weight lifting and fitness facility is adjacent to the court spaces. These spaces are connected by overhead doors to allow students and staff the opportunity to move quickly between the various environments and provide a strong connection between the spaces. Natural daylight fills each space to provide views and create a healthy, energizing environment. The exposed barrel vault structure creates a volume to support the high energy activities happening within. Large super graphics generate a sense of pride and school spirit. To future proof the building, the design allows for expansion to the east. This will accommodate future growth and needs for the district for years to come. Scope Summary - The scope of work for this project occupies 33,250 SF of space. The exterior design draws inspiration from the existing high school material palette and form. The strategic use of masonry and metal panel along the exterior compliments and coordinates with existing masonry patterns and design. Translucent panels allow daylight to fill the interior spaces and help break down the scale of the large addition. Vision windows are located strategically to prevent direct light from passing through via the use of sun shades. The use of a blue metal panel and roofing completes the exterior envelope and ties back to the school colors. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering services.
Design Achievement When Kansas State University decided to add soccer to their list of women’s sports they knew they would need to provide great facilities for their student athletes to practice and play, and an experience that would also attract fans. DLR Group designers worked with Athletics to develop a new competitive soccer facility that is helping them create a championship women’s soccer team in the Big 12. The facility will elevate the game play and recruit top players from the large pool of talented players typically found in the Midwest’s soccer mecca. A site was carefully chosen on campus that would meet their current needs as the soccer program begins, and provide long term flexibility for future improvements and expansion opportunities as their program grows. Scope Summary The scope of this new soccer facility is planned to be completed in phases and grow with KSU’s inaugural soccer program. Phase I of this Big 12 women’s soccer complex includes two natural turf fields – one for soccer competitions and the other to be shared as a practice field with KSU’s top football program. Both natural turf playing fields will feature a Bermuda grass hybrid variety of high performance turf and root zone mix to better withstand the cold temperatures of Kansas. The sand based field will provide fast drainage with over 2.8 miles of sub drain piping below the surface to filter storm water. Included in Phase I will be field lighting, a scoreboard, temporary bleachers, and a landscaped entry plaza. A stone pier fence that matches the athletics facility standards will be used to create a quadrant of developing sports facilities which are quickly creating a new gateway to their campus. As the soccer program develops, Phase II of the facility will provide a permanent grandstand with concessions and restrooms and new player facilities. DLR Group is providing planning, architecture, and landscape architecture.
Design Achievement - Johnson County Community College wanted to create new educational spaces to instigate collaboration between functional areas and become an incubator for new types of student learning. The college selected space that formerly housed several teaching kitchens, classrooms, and offices and had been sitting empty for two years. DLR Group’s design created an innovative space for teaching, learning, and partnering. Transparency and openness were the primary focus of this space, creating views into a space that used to be completely closed. Large expanses of glass, including over 25 feet of glass sliding doors, create a sense of welcome for students, teachers, business partners and the public. The central core is filled with highly collaborative and flexible furniture defining small, medium, and large group work areas. Each area is infused with technology and encourages partnering; from large screen TVs that students can connect to during group project discussions to whiteboard material covering the majority of the walls. From the inception of the project through all phases of design, DLR Group partnered with the research and design skills of the Director of Education Solutions at Scott Rice, a local furniture supplier. This partnership created significant cost savings, enhanced educational solutions for JCCC, and improved overall efficiency and functionality of the space. This diverse suite of spaces showcases the cutting edge of JCCC’s educational offerings, and provides unique environments for small and large group work for students. Scope Summary - The resulting 10,000 sf interior renovation required extensive coordination and demolition, removed sloped floor slabs and integrated extensive MEP system reconfiguration. Architecturally, the spaces were effectively gutted, creating a blank palette for the new Collaboration Center. In addition to the collaboration space, there are small and medium sized breakout rooms, a large learning studio, a gaming and animation studio classroom with top of the line technology, an audio classroom with an attached recording and control rooms, and a motion capture suite used to record movement that can be translated into video game production. DLR Group provided architecture, engineering and interior design services.
Design Achievement - Gardner Edgerton USD 231 tasked DLR Group with the job of adding a multiuse athletic center (MAC) to the existing Gardner Edgerton High School. The growing district was strapped for practice and training facilities. The MAC addition is strategically located near existing locker rooms, competition gymnasium and wrestling to complete the athletic complex at the high school. The addition provided two full-size courts that accommodate a number of athletic and leisure sports. Retractable nets and throwing nets hang from the facility to separate the gym floors and increase the functionality of the large gymnasium space. A state of the art weight lifting and fitness facility is adjacent to the court spaces. These spaces are connected by overhead doors to allow students and staff the opportunity to move quickly between the various environments and provide a strong connection between the spaces. Natural daylight fills each space to provide views and create a healthy, energizing environment. The exposed barrel vault structure creates a volume to support the high energy activities happening within. Large super graphics generate a sense of pride and school spirit. To future proof the building, the design allows for expansion to the east. This will accommodate future growth and needs for the district for years to come. Scope Summary - The scope of work for this project occupies xxx SF of space. The exterior design draws inspiration from the existing high school material palette and form. The strategic use of masonry and metal panel along the exterior compliments and coordinates with existing masonry patterns and design. Translucent panels allow daylight to fill the interior spaces and help break down the scale of the large addition. Vision windows are located strategically to prevent direct light from passing through via the use of sun shades. The use of a blue metal panel and roofing completes the exterior envelope and ties back to the school colors. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering services.
The City of Wichita had a vision for a revitalized youth sports complex where teams not only could stay home, but one that would be a regional draw, acting as an economic driver for the community.  DLR Group (and partners) worked closely with the City through a fast-track design and construction process to envision a plan for the modern, multi-venue, multi-field complex that would transform youth sports in the area. Beyond simply creating a facility equipped with the number of fields required to host large tournaments, the goal was to create an environment interspersed with ample amenities, concessions, restrooms, seating areas, and playgrounds to make it a place at which people would be comfortable spending long tournament weekends. Additionally, the vision for the indoor facility was to provide a unique space members of the community could relax, train, and play in year-round.  The centerpiece of the Stryker Sports Complex is the 112,200 SF indoor facility that houses a full-size (225’ x 340’) soccer field. The indoor turf is capable of being divided into two cross-fields or four youth fields for maximum flexibility.  Flanking the indoor facility are support spaces that include a large entry lobby, concessions, four dividable party rooms, offices, restrooms, and staff support spaces. While the indoor facility is the centerpiece of the complex, the ten fully lit outdoor fields, including a 2,896-seat championship stadium provide the critical mass required to host large events. An extensive network of landscaped pedestrian paths woven through ample parking for more than 900 cars makes the Stryker Sports Complex an accessible and highly-desirable destination for youth sporting events of all sizes.
Design Achievement – To maintain its competitive advantage and be recognized as a true 21st Century school, the Hutchinson, Kan., community passed a $78.8 million bond issue which includes this stand-alone Career and Technical Education Academy (CTEA) on the existing Hutchinson High School campus. DLR Group designed the new facility to complement the existing high school and express the unique professional, technical, and industrial nature of the community. Unique geometry, abundant natural daylight, and accent lighting that changes colors express the art and science of construction in a two-story space that includes a lobby and upstairs commons. The Hutchinson High School CTEA is shared with Hutchinson Community College, providing opportunities for collaboration and shared programs. The flexible design accommodates a variety of teaching styles and models. A multi-purpose space can be reconfigured as an exhibit hall, lecture area, classroom, or project-based teaching lab. Overhead doors provide vehicular access for large exhibits. The upper level lobby promotes interaction and also is used for staff training, exhibits, and collaborative learning. Moveable soft seating and tables give students the ability to rearrange the space to meet their immediate needs. Scope Summary – The scope for this project was a 95,700 SF building to accommodate 500 students who can pursue a variety of courses and programs including college credit and industry certifications. The programs include: auto body/collision repair, auto mechanics, building trades, business technology, communications, drafting, electronics, family and consumer science, machine technology, marketing and lodging management, medical science, networking and telecommunications, pre-education, pre-engineering, welding technology and woodworking. DLR Group provided planning and architecture services, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural engineering services for this project.
Wiley Elementary School Improvements at Wiley Elementary School will create a better learning environment and more resources for students and teachers. A new library will expand access to information, and the new early childhood classroom will accommodate younger children within the community. Two additional fourth grade classrooms and a first grade classroom will also be added. Building system upgrades and renovations to special education classrooms, the band room, orchestra classroom and administration areas will improve functionality and comfort for students, teachers and staff. Morgan Elementary School Improvements at Morgan Elementary School will create a better learning environment and more resources for students and teachers. A new library will expand access to information, and the new gymnasium will provide an outlet for children to stay active and energized. Two additional kindergarten rooms will also be added. Building system upgrades and renovations to special education classrooms, the band, orchestra and stage area and administration areas will improve functionality and comfort for students, teachers and staff.
Design Achievement - In preparation for district growth, Piper 3-5 Elementary School is designed with the future in mind. Initially constructed as an elementary school, the facility is intended for future expansion to a adapt to a high school curriculum. DLR Group’s design places the owners’ goals at the forefront of the design process to create a facility that is not only flexible, durable, safe and spacious, but is also able to efficiently transition into a high school without requiring extensive demolition or reworking in the future. A central spine connects the main entry to the south entry, opening outward to the community and laying the foundation to continue southward when the high school addition is built. Furthermore, the facility pays tribute to the farmland that stood on site for generations with careful integration of patterns, colors, and materials into both the interior and exterior aesthetics. Classroom areas are placed into clusters, consisting of a collaboration space, small group meeting area, and flexible breakout spaces, to support a plurality of pedagogies and learning styles evident at both the elementary and high school levels. Scope Summary - The scope of work included in this project for Piper Elementary School includes the construction of a new 104,707 SF facility on an isolated 75-acre site, designed to accommodate 750 students in grades 3-5 and is master-planned for a future 1200-student high school. The unique site, surrounded by wetlands and rolling contours, dictated the location and orientation of the buildings and site amenities. Classrooms are oriented towards the east on two floors, plus an additional area to the west on the upper floor to maximize natural daylighting. Key spaces include the construction of a kitchen, gymnasium, administration, classroom clusters, and Commons area. Site work includes a 400-car parking lot, bus and vehicle circulation loops, new public sewer line and easement, hard and soft play areas, and play fields. DLR Group is providing architecture, interior, and mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering services.
The new Educational Support Center houses the District Office and Board Room, an Executive Suite, Human Resources & Business services, Curriculum & Instruction services along with Special Services. These spaces will serve current and future needs of district administration and staff. The Spring Hill District Office interior architecture fosters a positive, creative and professional environment for District staff and visitors. Ground Level: District Offices, Board Room, Large Training Room, Human Resources and Special Services. Level Two: Executive Suite, Business Offices, Curriculum & Instruction, and the Staff Lounge The Board Room is designed to accommodate 100 occupants with expansion into an adjacent training area that will seat an additional 60 occupants. The clear area of the combined rooms will accommodate 160 occupants. The building is master planned to expand to the north to accommodate district growSth. DLR Group provided master planning, architecture, engineering, and landscape architecture services.
Design Achievement – Ottawa High School had a vision of designing a school that would leverage a knowledge base of successful school experience from across the nation and tailor an appropriate design for the Ottawa community from today and into the future. DLR Group incorporated four important factors into the design of Ottawa High School: student centered, forward thinking/adaptable/flexible, community focused and safety and security. New sections of construction spaces are located strategically throughout the design plan with the intent of providing a cohesive, refreshed and functional learning environment. The new construction takes on a clean-lined modern cost effective approach to design. The exterior façade of the building includes a blend of brick, metal panels, translucent panels and glazing in key locations. The translucent panels and glass not only adds natural daylight and views, but also offers a spirit of exploration into the classroom that enhances the learning environments and academic interaction. The interior of the school reflects a positive and creative learning environment for students, the community and visitor. The use of innovative materials, textures and colors will translate into a comfortable, fun and relaxed vibe that is inviting for students. Scope Summary – Ottawa High School occupies 206,712 SF of total space. Included in the addition is a new outdoor amphitheater, an outdoor learning lab, a commons entry plaza, a new performing arts entrance, a new administration entry plaza and a CTE play space for pre-k. The architectural concept of the outdoor learning lab is for the renovated classrooms to be designed with new doors and windows opening into the existing courtyard area to create a collaborative space, or “learning courtyard.” The commons entry plaza provides a space for outdoor dining at the commons. DLR Group provided architecture, engineering and interiors services.
Upon completion of the Community Vision Sessions and following formal Board of Education approval of the bond scope and timing, DLR Group began work to put together a detailed timeline of events, activities, and collateral to guide the sixteen-week informational campaign. Following that schedule, DLR Group worked with the district’s communications staff and leadership team to craft all campaign collateral and external messaging, including display materials, mailers, and social media assistance. Additionally, DLR Group led the coordination effort of the promotional “Vote Yes” committee. This work included crafting a tailored campaign outline, organizing and leading weekly meetings, creating collateral, identifying likely voters through local election research, and working with committee members to fundraise, knock doors, draft letters to the editor, spread awareness via social media, and other strategic tactics to promote the passage of the bond questions.
In the summer of 2015, Dodge City USD 443 passed a $85.6 million Bond Referendum to provide safety and security enhancements to all district schools, add educational program space to each Elementary School, the Middle School and addition at the High School. A $35.8 million dollar portion of the Bond dollars were allocated for additions to Dodge City High School to include a new academic wing, CTE expansion, PE expansion, and performing arts expansion that accommodates the next 15-years of growth.    ??The Dodge City High School design steering committee was very enthusiastic about having flexible and multi-functional spaces for both small and larger group collaboration. After a multi-day design charrette process, designers developed strategies that incorporated these active learning spaces throughout the 75,000 square foot addition. The design team created interdisciplinary STEM and Communication Arts suites that are located around the central two-story Maker Space as their new academic wing’s central focus. The new Maker Space can accommodate flexible lab-based learning and accommodate small or large presentations for up to 100 students. Student Learning Commons were scattered along the major circulation spines. This allowed for transparent teacher/student collaboration and hands on learning everywhere in the new Academic Wing. This addition moved the high school away from their traditional departmental learning model into a more multi-discipline model.
Design Achievement – The design for Riverfront Stadium set a new standard for AAA ballparks. The design aesthetic draws upon the historic Delano District and the rich heritage of baseball in Wichita. DLR Group’s design engages with the nearby Arkansas River and offers views of the skyline from inside the ballpark where the City will proudly feature a new Wichita Baseball Hall of Fame. Designers carefully planned unique seating options and hospitality areas throughout the ballpark, offering a variety of ticket prices and flexible spaces. Visitors, fans, and players experience multiple entry and plaza areas that include public art and iconic features such as towers and canopies. Riverfront Stadium is designed to be an entertainment destination for the citizens of Wichita and spaces can be used by the City year-round for football, concerts, soccer, and winter sports. The ballpark is part of a planned mixed-use development with connections to restaurants and retail. Scope Summary – This project delivered a new AAA ballpark with 5,935 fixed seats. Unique left-field berm seating, a picnic area, roof decks, tiered outfield seating, loge boxes, and suite and club seats, as well as additional standing room and specialty areas provide a total capacity of nearly 10,000 spectators. Amenities include a dozen 12-person suites and 26 loge boxes, seating four to six fans. A party deck at the suite level and another on the roof of the team building are available for game and year-round use. The unique site challenged designers who utilized a beamed seating design that offered construction cost savings and provided a concourse that circles the ballpark. DLR Group provided master planning, site planning, programming, and architectural design.
Tonganoxie Unified School District tasked DLR Group to design a comprehensive renovation and addition to their existing High School. The high school design was shaped by the district’s goals to provide future-ready learning environments for their students. The educational planning and design leverage a knowledge base of successful school experience from across the nation and customized it for what is appropriate and relevant for the Tonganoxie community both today and in the future. The goal of this approach is to create classic and timeless architecture. The new addition will flank the existing remaining school buildings with the two-story academic wing and cafeteria commons wing connected to a social commons’ circulation spline directly west of the existing PAC.  The administration suite will be located directly north of the existing PAC on the east side of the circulation spline.  The new competition Gymnasium is located directly east or the existing gymnasium and will be connected by a pre-function corridor that will lead to athletic support spaces to the south, connecting to the new choir room which will be directly south of the existing gymnasium. The Commons connects the school front to back, connecting from the active academic area that includes the drop off to the back of the core academic area. This area will serve as the cafeteria for the school as well as serving as a place to gather, with learning stairs on each side of the space. the new Social Commons connector serving as the link to the Educational Wing, Community Commons and existing CTE and Performing Arts programs.  The connector will ultimately create a central focal point for students as they move throughout their day.  A partial learning stair is incorporated into the grand staircase that leads to the second level of the academic wing.
Design Achievement LongHouse, the new visitor’s center at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, provides greater visitor amenities and houses expanded programming to meet the growing demands of the arboretum and surrounding community. DLR Group's design bridges nature, art, and science to enhance the Arboretum experience and to emphasize the strong relationship between the gardens and activities within the center. The structure reflects organic forms in nature – from the midribs of a leaf to the canopied layers of a forest. A central circulation spline sets the tone for what visitors will experience along their journey through the inviting pathways and gardens. The center is highlighted by a 250-patron capacity lower-level event space that engages the new upper pond, for weddings and other large gatherings. Scope Summary The new facility houses 20,500 SF of building area organized in three pods connected by a main circulation spline or “Gallery”, with major spaces including a café, gift shop, gallery, two classrooms, library, conference center, and a multi-purpose room. Conceptually the building pods represent groupings of trees that are further expressed as vertical elements that visually screen the functional elements contained beyond.  DLR Group provided architecture, interior design, and energy modeling services. In partnership with Confluence, DLR Group also provided an expanded landscape and garden design for the arboretum grounds.
Design Achievement – The major renovation and modernization of Hutchinson High School will create a dynamic showpiece for the community. DLR Group's design seeks to transform the original collection of buildings into a more dynamic campus that is complimentary and unique to the community. The new floor plan reorganizes areas departmentally and improves functionality and circulation to better accommodate existing and future educational programs and to better support career academies. The school will incorporate 21st-century technology and a related teaching approach. At the front entrance the inviting 2½-story glass atrium will welcome community members and visitors as they enter the campus. A new entrance canopy provides direct access into new administrative offices and the performing arts auditorium. Scope Summary – The additions will provide a much-needed additional 110,000 gross square feet of highly functional space. Renovations to the existing building areas include assistant principal administration, business, classrooms, SPED, media center, fine arts, food service, physical education & athletics and career and education academy. Additions include main lobby, administration, performing arts auditorium, drama, music, media center, commons/cafeteria, science, physical education and athletics and an elevated walkway connection from the upper level of the existing A-hall to the upper level of B-Hall.
Design Achievement - Turner USD 202 wanted to reimagine its middle school, originally constructed as the district’s high school over 60 years ago. DLR Group engaged school stakeholders in a variety of ways to define what a future ready middle school means to Turner, ultimately defined through 5 guiding principles: collaborative, creative, flexible, inclusive, and communal. From a building perspective, the new facility is layered into three zones from front to back with an active academic zone (athletics, music and administration), academic support (electives, counseling, food service), and core academic. Bisecting all three zones of the building is the central commons, terminating at the Idea Lab where students can engage in hands on learning, media resources, and a genius bar to service technology. Core academic areas group 7th grade on one level, and 8th grade on the other with classrooms, labs, and teacher support spaces. Spatial diversity, moveable partitions, interior transparency, and CoLab spaces provide an environment that caters to the ever changing needs of students and teachers. Scope Summary – 90,000 SF of facility will be new construction built behind the existing middle school, allowing the district to continue operating the school until construction wraps. Upon completion of the new building, the existing facility will be demolished with the exception of the gymnasium and auditorium, which will all be connected to create a cohesive single building. The facility will serve approximately 700 students, grades 7-8, and will serve as the new benchmark for future ready learning environments in Turner USD 202. DLR Group provided architecture, landscape design, interior design, and engineering for this project.
Design Achievement - Completed for RED Development, this lifestyle center benefits from high visibility from one of the city's most prominent intersections. DLR Group's design takes advantage of this visibility with outward-facing, open air storefronts fronted by an inviting, walkable pedestrian promenade including fountains and seating plazas enhanced by variety in hardscape finishes and patterns. A variety of upscale retail tenants have been attracted to the pedestrian friendly development. Two to four restaurants are also featured, occupying both ground level and 2nd floor space. Scope Summary - The scope of work spanned 120,000 SF of space in a series of one and two-story buildings. Sustainable design included white roof to minimize heat island effect; use of regional materials, recycled-content materials, and diversion of construction waste from landfills; water conservation measures through high-efficiency irrigation systems, and use of native plantings; reduced parking ratios to minimize the amount of hardscape; and work with the City to conduct improvements to an adjacent green way and park. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering services.

Design Achievement – This new youth soccer complex has exceeded all expectations from players and fans since it held its inaugural tournament in September 2009. DLR Group designed the facility as one of Premier soccer facilities in the country with fields and amenities that make it a favorite in the U.S. 12 competition fields make up the complex, each with lighting and artificial turf so play can continue and rain delays don’t affect tournaments. 24 youth size fields can also be configured to accommodate local recreation play. A large tensile fabric shade structure is a key design element and focal point of the complex. It creates a Pavilion that serves as a public plaza between the indoor fieldhouse and championship field grandstand with fixed seating for 500 fans. Scope Summary – In addition to the 12 competition fields, this complex features Soccer Central, located adjacent to the Championship Field. It includes a grandstand, a 16,000 SF, 2-story fieldhouse, the Great Lawn, and The Pavilion. The fieldhouse includes office space for local soccer club organizations as well as a referee lounge and locker rooms and first aid facilities. A community meeting room with kitchen and 2-story public lobby is also provided. Outside is large outdoor canopied pavilion where team events and medal ceremonies can be hosted and shade and rain protection be provided. The great lawn can be used as kick around areas, a vendor midway, or festivals. Restrooms and concessions will be located throughout the complex with fun zones featuring playgrounds and shade structures.
Design Achievement – DLR Group was tasked with expanding the existing Turner High School campus with the addition of a new stadium complex. Taking advantage of the existing grade change, the new press box building is sited at the top of a hill, with stadium seating built into the hillside. To the west of the press box is the new synthetic turf football field, and to the east is the new synthetic turf soccer field. Additionally, to the south, is a facility housing locker rooms, visitor concessions, and storage. The architecture of the buildings is designed to complement the existing high school architecture, a DLR Group design from 20 years prior. This new complex provides Turner athletics with a state of the art facility to elevate the game day experience for fans and players alike. Scope Summary – The facility includes both synthetic turf football and soccer fields, bleacher seating for both, additional parking, as well as approximately 6,000 SF of buildings. Buildings include a new press box/concession/restroom building, field house, and ticket booth. DLR Group provided integrated planning, architecture and engineering services for this project.
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Design Achievement - The Brookridge Development provides sustainable retail and office space for tenants and visitors. DLR Group’s design creates a destination place for the Overland Park community in this mix-use redevelopment of an existing golf course. Sustainability is at the forefront of this building with the use of mass-timber, day light, and other biophilic elements. Health and wellness are essential to this progressive design and Brookridge is invested in providing modern workspace that is both attractive and environmentally conscious. The public has access to a gym, retail, main lobby, and outdoor courtyard on the ground floor. The courtyard is framed by staggered floorplates that lead visitors up the main stair while Kansas limestone and native plants line the area. The community can gather in the new park adjacent to the building where the original golf course existed. Brookridge provides access to the exterior space with multiple balconies on each building and a southern facing roof deck. In this high traffic area, parking is available in an elevated parking structure under the office tower. Scope Summary - The scope of the Brookridge development includes 289,000 SF of office space, 10,000 SF of retail space, and 407,000 SF of parking space with 1,295 stalls. Key program spaces include retail, office, main lobby, courtyard, and roof deck. The buildings are bookended on the north and south sides to reduce solar heat gain and Brookridge is designed to acheive LEED Silver certification. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering services.
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Design Achievement – Shawnee Mission North High School’s addition addresses the district’s goal to bring equity to athletic spaces across the district’s many high schools. DLR Group was tasked with designing a weight room addition adjacent to existing athletic spaces, while also implementing a brand refresh for the schools as a whole. Being one of the oldest schools in the district, it had been a number of years since any significant upgrades had been made to athletic facilities at Shawnee Mission North. What was once a weight room and fitness center located in the building is now a state-of-the-art fitness center displayed at a prominent corner of the existing high school. The new addition is comprised of new weight training, cardio and indoor turf facilities that were previously disjointed and undersized. Expansive windows throughout, but particularly to the north, afford an opportunity to display athletic programs to the community at large while also allowing for strategic branding. New brand identity extends beyond elements visible to the exterior but is featured throughout the new addition and school at large. Scope Summary – The Shawnee Mission North addition is comprised of approximately 6,500 SF of weight training and indoor turf at the ground floor, with a 1,000 SF mezzanine for cardio equipment. DLR Group provided architecture, interior design, MEP engineering, environmental graphic design and branding services.
Design Achievement – In an effort to address growth in the district, Gardner Edgerton USD 231 tasked DLR Group with expanding the existing high school to offer a freshman learning wing and expanded elective course offerings. The new culinary bistro occupies the space that was previously the auto body shop for the building. A new state of the art kitchen, coupled with a formal restaurant space gives students the opportunity to learn critical culinary and management skills, specifically focused around running a restaurant. The design of the space is indicative of a real restaurant, using finishes such as porcelain tile, wood ceilings, and booth seating. Dimmable LED accent lighting helps define various dining zones, while also creating a dinner atmosphere for patrons. This additional CTE program not only accommodates growth in the district, but also furthers the academic offerings at Gardner-Edgerton High School. Scope Summary – The scope of work for this project totals over 50,000 SF, with the culinary bistro occupying 5,700 SF of that total. The 2000 SF restaurant space includes a formal dining room, café space, wait station, and entry vestibule. The 3000 SF kitchen space includes a culinary kitchen, ware washing, bakery kitchen, janitorial, laundry and a walk in cooler/freezer. DLR Group provided architecture, landscape and engineering services.
Design Achievement - DLR Group is helping to develop and recruit better student-athletes at Washburn University with the design of a new multi-purpose athletic facility that includes an indoor, 110-yard practice field, and an adjacent, 200-meter banked indoor track which will be the first of its kind for a Division II school. Working with the athletics staff and coaches to identify their practice and competition needs, DLR Group discovered that they didn’t have a competition track on campus. The addition of this new track will help them grow their track & field program and allow them to host their meets and attract regional and national meets as well. Designers explored the massing and orientation of the new multi-purpose facility and how it would best fit into campus and the surrounding neighborhood. DLR Group presented several roof options and explored how the building could be best oriented taking into consideration the adjacent baseball stadium, softball stadium and academic buildings. The final design takes advantage of its footprint and the sloped site – the building is stepped down the site to lower the mass of the building from campus and the neighborhood. Scope Summary - This 130,000 SF multi-purpose indoor athletic facility provides Washburn University’s football team with a 110-yard synthetic turf field which they share with the Ichabod’s soccer, baseball, and softball teams for year year-round practice and athlete development. An adjacent 200 meter banked indoor track, normally found only at larger Division I institutions, will be the first for a Division II school. Together the practice turf and competition track show a commitment to the University’s track and field program and gives the University a huge recruiting advantage for student-athletes to all their sports. The new indoor facility includes meeting rooms and offers indoor field space for University sponsored summer camps as well as a large assembly space for the campus. DLR Group is providing design services and is teamed with Schwerdt Design Group.
Design Achievement The Timberlane in Deer Creek Woods, one of the fi nal phases of Deer Creek Woods Mixed-Use Development, creates a unique life-style center in Overland Park. DLR Group completed the planning and design for most of the mixeduse development’s retail shoppes and offi ce buildings, and is currently designing this condominium/retail facility. A pedestrian level connection is envisioned to access a future spa and health club that can be shared with a planned extended stay hotel. A connection to the City’s walking trail system is also provided for the residents and offi ce/retail patrons. Scope Summary The $25 million project consists of 30,000 SF of retail on the fi rst fl oor, with 115 residential units on fi ve fl oors above. A sub-surface, twolevel parking garage will serve the residents with surface parking for the surrounding retail. The overall development consists of Deer Creek Corporate Centre and Deer Creek Shoppes. More than 200,000 SF of retail space is within the entire development. A wide variety of services including an art gallery, salon and spa, several restaurants, many unique retail businesses, two furniture stores, and a family dental offi ce are currently available. This project was taken through schematic design but was never built.
Design Achievement – DLR Group was tasked with expanding an outdated athletic complex for this fast-growing Kansas City suburb. The resulting design provides Gardner-Edgerton athletics with a modern complex that elevates the game day experience for fans and provides a significant home field advantage for its athletic teams. The signature design element is the addition of an arch canopy to the top of the home-side bleachers and press box. Scope Summary – The scope of this athletic facility renovation added a new synthetic turf football field and a seating expansion from 2,000 to 2,900 seats. A new, stand-alone visitor-side restroom and concessions building also was added to the site. DLR Group provided integrated planning; architecture; and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural engineering services for this project.
DLR Group’s educational experts spent a year with stakeholders discussing and concentrating on a single subject: \planning the future of the Newton School District for the next 10 years. The goal of Newton School District’s comprehensive plan focuses on educational pedagogy, physical assets and how they align with the strategic plan of the district. Over 90 Newton community patrons, staff and students came together through 23 meetings and crafted recommendations for the Board of Education to consider. DLR Group shared a variety of educational information with the groups and feedback was gathered. The feedback included strategic planning by the Board of Education to establish goals and a vision, as well as how the district patrons, staff and students responded. DLR Group also evaluated the physical assets of the district along with how these physical attributes affect educational delivery. Many of the conversations regarding how education is delivered at each school revolved around the way teachers are achieving the present vision and mission of the district, with budgetary and physical limitations. DLR Group relayed all findings and proposed recommendations, along with synthesized community conversations. The summary created a phased approach to achieve the recommendations, with milestone and a phased approach for completion.
Pre-bond referendum, master planning, community concensus builiding and bond referendum suppport fee.Payment contingent on bond issue passage 0.25% of $82,400,000.
12-11113-00 is the site grading package for Gardner Elementary (12-11113-01) and Gardner Middle School (12-11113-02), which are two new schools on one site.  All project data is in the individual project numbers. KWalbert 3/19/13
Woodland Spring Middle School stands as a beacon of innovation and adaptability in education. Spring Hill Unified School District aspires to foster collaboration and creativity among diverse student teams, paving the way for individualized learning experiences. DLR Group’s design achieves this by prioritizing flexibility and multi-use spaces, ensuring that the building evolves seamlessly with future educational trends and needs. With a focus on facilitating collaborative learning, the design boasts standard-shaped flexible rooms capable of serving various purposes. By minimizing interior load-bearing walls and strategically placing non-flexible spaces, such as restrooms and mechanical rooms, the design allows for effortless reconfiguration at minimal expense. Critical to this vision are high-quality movable walls and partitions, engineered to seamlessly divide large areas into smaller, intimate spaces while maintaining soundproofing for optimal learning environments. The scope for this 100,000 SF prototype middle school encompasses a range of program spaces meticulously designed to support diverse educational activities. From the administration area, featuring reception, counseling offices, and a nurse's office, to specialized classrooms like computer labs and art rooms, every space is crafted to facilitate holistic learning experiences. Noteworthy technical achievements include the incorporation of movable walls and partitions to enhance flexibility, as well as the strategic layout to accommodate future expansion to accommodate an 800-student population. Sustainability features are woven into the design, promoting energy efficiency and environmental stewardship for a lasting impact on both students and the community. Woodland Spring Middle School stands as a testament to DLR Group's commitment to shaping environments that inspire and empower individuals to reach their full potential. DLR Group provided architecture, interior design, and engineering.
Design Achievement - Eudora Elementary School's interior design solution enhances student learning and understanding of geographic regions and climates. Using Dr. Seuss' Oh the Places You'll Go as inspiration, DLR Group's design introduces students to different worldly environments, and incorporates the world into the building design. Ecosystems are the overarching theme of the school, which is designed around a small learning community (SLC) concept. A unique biome gives identity to each of the five SLCs. Biomes, including Arctic, Aquatic, Desert, Rain Forest and Savanna, provide wayfinding inside the school and incorporate learning within students' daily environment. The building itself is a learning tool through creative finishes, fixtures and furnishings exhibiting the world's unique environments. All materials and design elements and colors play off each specific biome. For instance, the Aquatics SLC features blues and greens to emulate water and sea life; while the Desert SLC highlights yellows and golds to represent sand and sun. Scope Summary - The 130,000 SF elementary school for grades 1-5 features a central media center that supports the five SLCs and represents a large, communal gathering space at the center of the world. Glazing between the media center and main corridor showcases a collection of student handprints, which collectively compose the world's continents. Benches at each SLC entrance allow places for students to interact. Large, open discovery areas in each SLC are surrounded by classrooms. The discovery areas have a raised platform in the center to encourage interactive and playful learning. A wet zone with sinks and hard surfaces in the discovery area encourages students from multiple classrooms to work on shared projects.
Design Achievement - To enhance the opportunity for both ideation and collaboration at the CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) school, the Blue Valley School District decided to develop a student accelerator as an incubator for supporting students’ work and collaboration. DLR Group’s design for the accelerator provides students space equipped to facilitate every stage of the service or product development process: ideation, research, collaboration, prototyping, testing, and revision. CAPS students use these spaces to work in teams and individually through project based learning. The program and layout afford students flexibility by way of choice and opportunity. Spaces in the accelerator include a presentation room, wet lab, research space, ideation space, collaboration space, and prototyping lab. Scope Summary - Making use of unassigned space in the CAPS building, the CAPS Accelerator required the programming, planning, and design of 6,700SF of empty shell space. The design team used space planning, materials, furnishings and technology to establish learning environments that facilitate collaboration and project based learning. A long linear ‘bar’ was available to the design team to create the new accelerator, but innovation and learning are not a linear process. As such, multiple venues were provided, all with abundant daylighting, to provide students with a wide variety of spaces to conduct their learning and research. Based on discussions with faculty and the model environments found in progressive and innovative business organizations, the design team reinforced the following environmental characteristics in the accelerator: technology for communication, research, and prototyping; transparency and visual privacy; acoustical control and audial privacy; flexibility of systems and furnishings. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, and interiors services.
Design Achievement – The new Grand Star Elementary School was part of the 2012 bond projects to address the Gardner Edgerton School District's growing student population. DLR Group's design is a site adaption of Madison Elementary School, a previous DLR Group design for the District, which allowed for an accelerated design schedule and a reduced project budget. Two classroom pods surround the centrally located media center and computer labs. An abundance of clerestory windows are located throughout the pods to draw natural sunlight into the building. Within each classroom pod is a large, multi-purpose space used for large group projects and gatherings, as well as indoor recess due to inclement weather. The space joins an outdoor classroom for outdoor activities and learning. Scope Summary – This new 78,429 SF elementary school serves 525 students in grades K-4. The scope began with site adaptation of Madison Elementary School in the district, with modifications to enhance the design for the new location. The enlarged the gymnasium accommodates the Physical Education classes and after school Y-care program. The building is situated to take full advantage of the existing site drainage and elevations. The two classroom pods are separated by a public sphere that includes the administration offices, media center and gymnasium. DLR Group provided planning, architecture and MEP engineering services for the project.
Design Achievement- Spring Hill High School want their student athletes to be safe and successful. New facilities were needed in order to provide a platform for students to safely and effectively participate in and watch the school’s athletic teams. DLR Group’s design for a new District Activity Center creates a space where sustainability, school spirit, and safety cohesively unite to engage students, athletes, and spectators. The team took existing practice fields transformed it into the new District Activity Center complete with two new synthetic turf fields, a press box, concessions stands, restrooms, and bleacher seating.  These additions further the school’s spirit in the details of logos and the color scheme. Scope Summary- This project covered about 18 acres of land. The renovations were aesthetically upgraded and modernized, but they were also sustainably perfected. The synthetic turf fields utilized an organic infill comprised of a mix of cork and coconut, rather than the standard rubber. This sustainable approach lowers the field temperature and reduces the carbon footprint directly associated with producing the crumb-rubber infill.  A shock pad was also installed on the football field in effort to reduce injuries. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering that betters the everyday experiences of the students and student athletes of Spring Hill High School.
Design Achievement - The Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, KS believes that schools should prepare students for a successful future and that students should have the opportunity to practice professional innovation in their high school curricula. Acting on this belief, Blue Valley developed a program to provide personalized learning experiences with an emphasis on teaching strategies for innovation. DLR Group’s (formerly Momenta)* design for the Center for Advanced Professional Studies facilitates a program that teaches students about ideation and the creative process as well as the benefits of collaboration and teamwork. Educational spaces that mimic the workplace for specific careers encourage partnerships between local businesses, teachers, and students. CAPS supports spaces that are designed and equipped to facilitate every step of the service or product development process. Spaces are configured to accommodate Ideation, Research, Collaboration, Prototyping, Testing, and Revision. In conjunction with their general education, juniors and seniors take courses in any of four strands: Biosciences, Business, Engineering, or Human Services. Scope Summary - The 66,200 SF facility houses classrooms, laboratories, and student project space for students focused on specific career paths. The 300 student capacity building is designed to respect the environment through a significant reduction in energy and water consumption, the use of renewable and recycled-content materials, and the application of low life-cycle-cost systems. All classrooms are equipped with wireless connectivity, audio visual projection, and dimmable light fixtures. Security and safety are promoted through an office controlled entrance and the use of access badges for after-hour entry. Raised access floor and demountable walls have been utilized to provide flexibility for changes in curriculum and technology. The project attained LEED Certification at the Gold Level. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, and interiors services. *Momenta was prime architect with Perkins+Will serving as design architect.
The new Piper Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade students. After touring several DLR Group-designed elementary schools, District representatives selected a school to site adapt to quickly meet the needs of their growing population. The design includes classrooms for kindergarten through fifth grades, with discovery rooms/computer classrooms and six special education classrooms. The administration area, gymnasium, a media center, art and music classrooms, a cafeteria and kitchen are organized to provide maximum flexibility, convenience, and comfort within a state-of-the-art learning environment for the district’s staff and students, as well as the local community.
Design Achievement – A strategic renovation of Piper High School was needed to enhance access and circulation. The design reorganized the school by doubling the size of an academic wing of classrooms in a linear fashion and relocating 10 classrooms and fine arts spaces from the gymnasium basement to an appropriate location on grade. The administration was centrally relocated to the public entrance and is now accessible by the entire school and provides enhanced safety and security. The primary student access is a new 2-story student commons that also serves as a pre-function space for athletic events and student productions in the performing arts center. This space centrally connects academics, expanded athletics facilities, a new food service area, and the renovated and expanded fine arts space. Scope Summary – The scope of the renovation doubled the size of the academic wing; relocated classrooms; increased the size of food service, locker rooms, and athletic training facilities; and expanded seating in the varsity gymnasium. Piper High School is a 118,470 SF school serving 458 students in grades 9-12. This renovation was coordinated and completed in less than 12 months while school was in session. DLR Group provided integrated planning; architecture; and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural engineering services for this project.
Design Achievement - Patrons in the Blue Valley School District in Kansas uphold high expectations for all students, staff and facilities, including the new Aubry Bend Middle School. DLR Group's design creates a student-centered facility that responds to the unique educational, developmental and social needs of middle school students. As students approach the building they are welcomed through a 2.5 story lobby illuminated by natural daylight. Continuing through the building, a monumental stair encourages vertical movement and provides the backbone for student circulation. A courtyard is framed on one side by the student commons, which contains an operable glass wall that links the indoor social area with an outdoor gathering and learning space. Pervious pavers reduce storm water run-off on site. Rain screen wall systems, high efficiency mechanical systems, and proper building orientation supplement sustainable opportunities for this project. Scope Summary - The new 128,300 SF Aubry Bend Middle School is the 10th middle school for this growing District in suburban Kansas, and serves 750 students in grades 6-8. Social and educational development occurs naturally in the media center, which prominently presents itself along the western facade. This two-story volume pierces through a sweeping metal panel wall and elegantly floats above grade. The juxtaposition and scale of these two elements provide insight to the functions within. Slot windows trace along the gracefully curved wall providing slivers of ambient light within as the curved facade shields against the adjacent high speed vehicular traffic. DLR Group provided architecture and interiors services.
Design Achievement – The new Trail Ridge Middle School was part of the 2012 bond projects to address the Gardner Edgerton School District’s growing student population. DLR Group’s design is a site adaption of Pioneer Ridge Middle School, a previous DLR Group design for the District, this allowed for an accelerated design schedule and a reduced project budget. A clerestory connects the public and student entry plazas to the central media center and brings natural light into the core of the school. Administration is located at the primary public entrance to the building. The two L-shaped academic wings surround media center to the east, with the auditorium and gymnasium to the west. The academic wings are self-contained with their own core classrooms, to achieve separation of the 5th-6th graders from the 7th-8th graders. A forum room and computer laboratories designed to accommodate group sessions located between the academic wings provide even more separation of the grade levels. Scope Summary – The 133,989 SF middle school is a site adapt of Pioneer Ridge Middle School in the district, with modifications to enhance the design for the new location. The school includes a 400-seat auditorium with adjacent music classrooms and an 800-seat competition gymnasium. Site amenities include a competition football field and track with bleacher seating, concessions and restrooms, two practice fields and space for a future softball field. The middle school serves 1,000 students in grades 5-8. DLR Group provided planning, architecture and MEP engineering services for the project.
Design Achievement The school board of the Shawnee Mission district, which is the state of Kansas' third-largest district with roughly 27,000 students, recently passed a measure requiring mascots to be culturally and racially sensitive and appropriate. One of the first schools to make the change was Kansas City-area Shawnee Mission High School. DLR Group was asked to help transition the school mascot from the outdated Indians mascot to the new Bison mascot. Students, administrators and staff went through the exercise of determining what the new mascot was going to be and had also set the goal of keeping the red, white and black color palette that the school is known for. Keeping with a familiar color palette allows the new brand to connect with the school's prior history even though the mascot has changed. Just like other educational brands the design of the identity marks needed to be extremely flexible as it serves as the brand for both academic and sport. Scope Summary With the Bison mascot as the objective, DLR Group developed a solution that included both a primary forward facing identity mark and also a mark showing the bison from an active side view that will primarily be featured in conjunction with the school's sports teams. Numerous alternate, or secondary marks, were created to allow for variety while keeping everything on-brand. Serious consideration was put into the selection and use of the typography to keep it both functional and visually pleasing as it will be utilized in many situations going into the future. The final deliverable for the project includes identity marks, a brand guide, business materials, sports uniforms and a vast variety of merchandise (tote bags, t-shirts, coffee mugs, stocking caps, baseball caps, scarfs and badges). DLR Group provided all experiential graphic design services for the project and will include the future development of experiential graphics for the school.
Design Achievement: In an effort to support and respond to strategic planning endeavors, the University of Kansas has embarked on an ambitious fifth Master Plan, with foundational aspirations to educate leaders, build healthy communities and provide for multi-disciplinary collaboration and engaged innovative scholarship. Development and investment in this plan will help KU to attain strategic goals, including strengthening the recruitment and retention of students and faculty members, preparing doctoral students to be innovative leaders, and enhancing the research capabilities of the University. The redevelopment plan is a bold endeavor to coordinate and develop six new facilities in the Lawrence campus central district. The development includes an Integrated Science Building, Residence Hall & Dining Facility, Apartment-Style Housing, Student Union, Parking Facility, Central Utility Plant, and site development. DLR Group’s design transforms the central district into an inviting, pedestrian friendly environment filled with activated outdoor spaces linked together by the Jayhawk Trail. While strengthening campus connections by linking to the Jayhawk Trail, the overall design respects the historic core, addresses water conversation, develops living laboratories, and creates more efficient transit opportunities. Scope Summary: The scope of work for this project supports an in?ll site among existing buildings and infrastructure that will replace existing structures and will increase campus density. The Integrated Science Building (ISB) contains teaching and lab space, including a cleanroom with nano-fabrication, an auditorium and break-out common spaces for students and professors to meet, collaborate, and study. The Student Union includes numerous student services in addition to a full kitchen, coffee shop, reflection room, a convenience store, and a flexible event hall. The Central Utility Plant supports mechanical infrastructure for the adjacent campus and a multi-purpose classroom. A new Residence Hall and 475-seat Dining Center, as well as Student Apartments, providing 1,250 beds total, include common areas for students to socialize and study. Additional parking, over 2,100 parking spaces, will be added to the Central District, including surface parking and a new 600-space parking deck. The redevelopment project utilizes more than 30 acres with elevation changes of nearly 100 feet.  Accommodating safe access to occupied buildings and ongoing infrastructure is a particular challenge to the design/construction team. DLR Group, in a collaboration with Perkins+Will and Con?uence, is providing architecture, planning, and interiors services for the Parking Facility/Transit Infrastructure and Central Utility Plant.
DLR Group was hired to do a study regarding a potential baseball stadium to be placed in downtown Topeka. The stadium would be used as the home stadium for a minor league baseball team. The facility could also be utilized as a soccer stadium and a venue for outdoor concerts.
Design Achievement – Shawnee Mission Northwest High School’s renovation addresses the district’s goal to revitalize an existing common and provide improved social and collaborative spaces. DLR Group was tasked with transforming a space originally built in 1969 into future ready learning environments, akin to those you would find in the District’s newer facilities.  At the heart of the school, the 1969-era existing concourse served as a cafeteria space, but ultimately served as a thoroughfare for students passing from one end of the building to the other. In order to activate a widely underused space, the design team employed three strategic changes. Firstly, the once separated concourse and cafeteria were connected to create a fluid, lively heart of the school to be leveraged for more than just dining. Secondly, a new mezzanine was added, not only to better connect the first and second story of the building, but also to allow for the injection of future ready collaborative learning spaces at both levels of the building. Lastly, interior elements such as added transparency, improved lighting and acoustics, as well as revitalized finishes helped create a space that not only functioned better, but one that draws students into it. As part of this interior renovation, traditional male/female restrooms were converted into gender neutral facilities, embracing an inclusive culture that Shawnee Mission School District is implementing across the district.    Scope Summary – The Shawnee Mission Northwest commons renovation is comprised of approximately 21,500 SF of interior renovation between two floor levels. The restroom remodel scope is 650 SF between two locations. DLR Group provided architecture, interior design, and MEP engineering.
Based on our discussions and the wishes of Chief Ramsey, below is our proposal for assisting SCJF in executing a study for the development of a prototype bureau station, with a focus on 21st Century policing design approaches and a vision toward the station of tomorrow. Our limited role in this study is to assist the City and SCJF with visioning and data collection, program verification and development of a blocking-level schematic design concept, along with assisting with a final presentation of the study recommendations to the City.
Design Achievement – The new Wolf Creek Elementary School is allowing the Spring Hill School District to continue to provide its growing student population with small class sizes and modern, collaborative schools. DLR Group's design is a site adaption of Prairie Creek Elementary School, a previous DLR Group design for the District. This allowed for an accelerated design schedule and a reduced project budget. The main circulation corridor of the school is curved to shorten the distance between the ends of the building. Along the corridor are separate pods for each grade level. Each pod is lined with large windows to allow natural light into the learning areas. Distinctive color schemes distinguish the pods and create an identity for each grade level. An entrance axis separates the public and academic areas of the school to allow secure access by visitors. The public sphere consists of administration, a commons area and the gymnasium. The academic sphere houses classroom pods, special education classrooms and the media center. Scope Summary – This new 72,032 SF elementary school serves 500 students in grades K-5. The scope of work began with site adaptation of another school in the district, with modifications to enhance the design for the new location. A blue ceiling supports suspended cloud panels and natural sunlight pours in through clerestory windows. Classrooms are divided into pods with shingles over their double doors to resemble houses. Each of the pods has a different color scheme to create identity within grade levels. DLR Group provided planning, architecture and MEP engineering services for the project.
Based on our discussions and the wishes of Chief Ramsey, below is our proposal for assisting SCJF in executing a study for the development of a prototype bureau station, with a focus on 21st Century policing design approaches and a vision toward the station of tomorrow. Our limited role in this study is to assist the City and SCJF with visioning and data collection, program verification and development of a blocking-level schematic design concept, along with assisting with a final presentation of the study recommendations to the City.
Eudora High School Career & Technical Center is a 19,388 GSF renovation/addition to the High School. The addition also includes a new 242 gsf outdoor greenhouse.
Design Achievement: With a desire to accommodate significant student and faculty growth, the College of Engineering at Kansas State University needed to expand its existing three building complex to support an increase of 30 tenure-track faculty members and 750 students over ten years. The existing complex consisted of three major buildings, Durland Hall, Rathbone Hall, and Fiedler Hall, totaling 267,040SF. DLR Group’s (formerly Momenta)* design for the addition to the three building complex provides more classroom, laboratory and faculty space, and significantly increases the opportunity for student collaboration. Facilitating and encouraging this collaboration, the design supports educational space dedicated to prominent design teams, working/teaching laboratory environments, collaborative research space, and dedicated space for college-level student organizations. Scope Summary: Beyond simply completing the quadrangle, the 99,198SF addition greatly improved circulation and connectivity between the new and existing structures and the disciplines within them. The existing service courtyard was enclosed to create a three-story atrium. This element unified building connectivity, established a new College entrance and visitors center and put project teamwork on display. The program included spaces dedicated to academic support for expanded programming in computer and electrical engineering departments, system administration, instruction, research, and flex and facility support. In addition, a new concrete materials testing lab was provided for on the lowest level. The central, three-story atrium facilitates circulation from the West side of campus and between Durland, Rathbone, and Fiedler Halls. Triple glazing and sun control devices, a combination of sun shades and fritting, were used to provide and control daylighting to the building. New glass, metal and precast facades were selected to complement the existing building materials and significantly update the College of Engineering image and brand. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, and interior design services. * Momenta was associate architect with Perkins+Will serving as prime architect.
Design Achievement – Olathe has a vibrant past, and a forward-thinking future focused on downtown growth. As part of its master plan, the city is advancing a mixed-use development strategy to support commercial uses, promote walkability, and provide various housing options. The first phase delivers a landmark library along the main thoroughfare Santa Fe Street and connected to the existing Civic Center Park. DLR Group’s new library design welcomes the community with a flourishing environment tailored-made for celebrating literature and arts and advancing innovation. Clad in a timeless glass facade, the iconic silhouette of the central creative tower rises out of the base of the building featuring a contemporary use of brick and stone materials. The base of the building and surrounding site elements are like roots reaching out to the community drawing people in. Now an extension of the park, the site creates multiple inside-outside experiences. Inside, a double-height flex box theater seamlessly spills into the exterior event plaza, providing spaces for community performances, readings, and events to support the library program. As the hillside falls away, the grading along the flanking amphitheater and learning stairs mirrors the interior theater, further creating a connection point between the spaces. Users linger throughout the day and find respite at the on-site coffee shop with outdoor shaded seating. In the center, the creative tower and rooftop terrace offer a different experience within the library; exploration and innovation are elevated with maker spaces for community members of all ages to create and invent. At night, the creative tower illuminates downtown serving as a beacon to Olathe’s history of exploration. Scope Summary – The new four-story, 47,000 SF library will include the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Office, and a local coffee shop. On the west side of the site, learning stairs with an integrated ramp for accessibility lean more towards a solitary, heads-down environment, while the amphitheater hosts performances and group learning sessions. A rooftop terrace on the east side is directly connected to the creative tower offering expansive views of downtown and the park below. The terrace’s shade structure is detailed with varying angled slats. When the sun shines overhead, the shadow cast mimics books on shelves. A retaining wall finds life through a mural installation, and a sculpture dedicated to the former Mayor and local blown glass pieces activate the site as a cultural hub for the community. The materiality of the structure adds context to the site. Honed manufactured stone replicates limestone serving as a classic, grounded base, and is installed vertically with a pattern of slender inset windows expressing books nested together. Dark, manganese ironspot brick morphs throughout the day, picking up tones based on the atmosphere. Blue and gray tones meld on cloudy days while an almost metallic finish gleams with the sun giving the building life and reinforcing innovation. The central creative tower is a light, airy, glass-encased structure with translucent wall panels to mitigate glare and conceal the service stairs. The new downtown library is a realization of Olathe’s ambitious master plan, which called for a destination library that will attract people from throughout Olathe and the entire metro. DLR Group provided architecture and landscape design services.
Based on our discussions and the wishes of Chief Ramsey, below is our proposal for assisting SCJF in executing a study for the development of a prototype bureau station, with a focus on 21st Century policing design approaches and a vision toward the station of tomorrow. Our limited role in this study is to assist the City and SCJF with visioning and data collection, program verification and development of a blocking-level schematic design concept, along with assisting with a final presentation of the study recommendations to the City.
Design Achievement - The new Garden City High School responds to the District's goals of reducing class sizes, increasing graduation rates, retaining teachers, and promoting real-life learning experiences in a 21st century environment. DLR Group's design features four distinct, yet consistent, interconnected multistory small learning communities (SLCs) that encourage relationship building and provide students with enhanced ownership of their future. The school's design is inspired by the landscape. Exterior materials provide a monochromatic backdrop to the bright yellow and dark brown accent colors that reflect the area's abundant sunflowers and reinforce school colors. A large, radius circular loop drive surrounding the school metaphorically represents crop irrigation circles symbolic of the Kansas region's agricultural ties. Scope Summary - The 384,000 SF high school accommodates 2,000 students in four SLCs, with the ability to expand for 2,500. Students first complete the Ninth Grade SLC and then choose an interest-based learning environment that reflects post-graduate pursuits in: Education & Finance; Information Technology; or Health & Agriculture. Each SLC has a decentralized administrative team, student living room, core and career classrooms, project based research and applied learning labs, and an outdoor gathering area. Extensive glazing emphasizes transparency and openness, and provides daylighting and exterior life views. Community connections are enhanced by the inviting public entrance with access to the auditorium, gym and commons. The flexible commons also serves as a pre-function space for school events and community functions. Stairs at the south end of the commons provide direct access to the media center and SLC upper levels. DLR Group provided architecture, engineering and interior design services for this project.
Design Achievement: To better respond to a growing student and faculty population, Kansas City University (formerly the Kansas City University of Medicine + Biosciences) identified a campus wide need to update, expand, and modernize their facilities. Initial efforts focused on the development of a new Campus Library and a new Student Center. DLR Group was selected to lead both efforts. DLR Group’s design for the Campus Library, adjacent to the institution’s Weaver Auditorium, houses all student and staff activities on the main level with library stacks and individual student areas located on the upper floor. Archival stacks and long term storage are located in an environmentally controlled basement. The library features ample daylighting, current digital retrieval technology, and presentation media technology. Scope Summary: The scope of the project included the design and construction of a new, three-story, 20,000SF campus library. The library is one of three structures that occupy the immediate campus district which radiates from a central pedestrian and vehicular drop-off circle. Designed to complement the existing Weaver Auditorium, the building’s exterior façade is comprised of brick and stone masonry with high-efficiency glazing. DLR Group provided architecture, planning, and interior design services.
Design Achievement: The City of Overland Park prides itself on providing high quality and affordable facilities that support recreational and leisure activities for the whole family. With a focus on health and wellness, the City of Overland Park has committed to improving its parks for the young and old. DLR Group’s design for the Sapling Grove Shelter, Restroom, & Play Park, developed collaboratively with the City, respects the surrounding environment, improves sight lines and circulation through the site, and provides new space for play and rest. Scope Summary: Sapling Grove Park, located in Overland Park, just south of Comanche Elementary School, is flanked on three sides by residential housing and supports regular foot traffic via an existing trail system that bypasses the park. Prior to DLR Group’s efforts, the existing park supported a combination shelter/restroom and playground facility, well-worn over many years of use. DLR Group’s design replaces these facilities with a 500SF Restroom, 1,200SF Shelter, Playground and Water Feature, sited strategically to preserve existing trees, improve security, and prevent vandalism. The restroom and shelter designs incorporate heavy glulam timbers, native stone veneer, and standing seam metal roofs. The restroom and water feature are intended for seasonal use and were designed to be winterized in the colder months. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, and interiors services.
Design Achievement: To better respond to a growing student and faculty population, Kansas City University (formerly the Kansas City University of Medicine + Biosciences) identified a campus wide need to update, expand, and modernize their facilities. Initial efforts focused on the development of a new Campus Library and a new Student Center. DLR Group was selected to lead both efforts. DLR Group’s design for the Student Center adjoins the institution’s Weaver Auditorium, with the central information desk, book store, refreshment and snack vending, student lounge, and storage located on the middle main level. From this level, an open stairway leads to the University’s student fitness center located on the lower level. The upper third floor houses student organization offices, meeting rooms, and additional student lounges. An exterior roof deck serves as a special function roof terrace. Scope Summary: The scope of the project included the design and construction of a new, three-story, 24,000SF campus student center. The student center is one of three structures that occupy the immediate campus district which radiates from a central pedestrian and vehicular drop-off circle. Designed to complement the existing Weaver Auditorium, the building’s exterior façade is comprised of brick and stone masonry with high-efficiency glazing. DLR Group provided architecture, planning, and interior design services.
Design Achievement - Lawrence Public Schools seek to prepare students for their future through hands-on learning experiences in innovative, engaging environments. To provide opportunity for direct engagement with business and industry leaders with access to relevant and useful technology, the District committed to the creation of space and curriculum dedicated solely to this charge. DLR Group’s design for the Lawrence College + Career Center creates active learning environments that engage students in authentic career programs in support of individualized project based learning by providing flexible spaces focused on engineering, computer technology, robotics, public safety, bioscience, health care, and business. The building enhances career-based learning by: replicating high performance real-world workplace environments; and promoting a common intellectual mission with transparency between learning environments that encourages “visible learning” and collaborative reflection Scope Summary - Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the 30,000SF building is strategically sited to afford flexibility for future expansion and is composed of two overlapping bars that create a two story atrium space at their intersection. This space is flexible in its ability to be connected or closed to adjacent spaces and adaptable as it can be reconfigured for small or large group activities. With a clerestory surround on three sides, this naturally day lit, centrally located atrium is the heart of the building. The building design incorporates the use of exposed structural materials and systems: steel, concrete and roof decks. This approach produced more authentic and flexible learning labs and minimized the use of traditional finish materials. Interior and exterior wayfinding, graphics and furniture selection were used to reinforce the LCCC brand. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, and interiors services.
The new Baldwin City Primary Center replaces an outdated facility and will benefit all young learners in the community. The school is a site adaption of a previous DLR Group design, with modifications to meet the district’s specific needs. This allowed for an accelerated design schedule and a reduced project budget.   The main circulation corridor of the school is curved to shorten the distance between the ends of the building. Along the corridor are separate pods for each grade level. Each pod is lined with large windows to allow natural light into the learning areas. Distinctive color schemes distinguish the pods and create an identity for each grade level.   An entrance axis separates the public and academic areas of the school to allow secure access by visitors. The public area includes administration, the commons, gymnasium and a multi-purpose room that is available for community use. The academic area includes the learning centers and media center.   The school includes pre-cast construction and received a grant to include a FEMA storm shelter. It is master planned for growth and can accommodate an additional 96 students with a future classroom pod.
Design Achievement - When International Speedway Corporation (ISC) wanted to expand its brand in the Midwest with a regional raceway, it turned to DLR Group to design a fan and driver friendly track as the centerpiece of a regional mixed-use destination. DLR Group worked closely with ISC to program and optimize revenue generating opportunities and fan amenities. A wide variety of seating options with corresponding price points were devised to meet the needs of NASCAR fans in the region. A signature feature of the design was the first interactive Fan Walk at an ISC venue. The Fan Walk provides direct access to the infield allowing spectators to experience the inspection garages, victory lane, and one of-a-kind views to the track from the infield and turn one. The Fan Walk concept has since been copied and implemented at race tracks across the country. Scope Summary - This NASCAR facility is sited on more than 1,300 acres on the western edge of metropolitan Kansas City. The speedway features a 1.5 mile tri-oval configuration with 10.4 degree banking in the front stretch and 15 degree banking in the turns. The design includes a Driver's Family Center, an Emergency Care Center, four garages with 30 bays each, inspection building, and press/media center. Kansas Speedway opened with an initial 75,000 seats in the central grandstand and 900 seats in upper-level suites. Continuous demand for tickets has warranted further seating expansion. Grandstand seating combined with RV parking in the infield and along the backside of the track accommodates more than 100,000 fans on race day. The grandstand includes 44 single suites, nine double and two triple suites. A 10,800 SF administration building includes ticketing, conference rooms, and offices. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering services for this project.
DLR Group is known for its interactive, community-based planning approach that builds consensus and engages all stakeholders in the planning process. We partnered with Salina USD 305 and community for 10 months in order to develop a long-range strategic facilities plan with the goal to create 21st century learning spaces that are flexible, adaptive and varied for its students and staff. The district also wanted durable facilities with a focus on safety and security. The plan includes a demographic study of the district to analyze enrollment trends and projections, a comprehensive review of all district facilities and community engagement meetings to set the short term and long term vision of education for Salina USD 305. Some of the challenges facing the district include outdated facilities with the last bond passing in 1998. The district includes eight elementary schools, two middle schools, two high school campuses and an alternative education center. To ensure participation from all members of the community, a series of four community meetings, eight visioning community sessions, six business + community meetings and 11 school site council meetings were held offering community members an opportunity to engage in productive conversation, study the facts about their district, and collectively position the district for long-term success. After successful planning and passage of the bond, DLR Group is currently serving as the district’s architect for renovations at both high schools.
Provide MEP design services for HVAC renovations, adding air conditioning to 3 existing gymansiums in Circle, KS USD 375.
Provide MEP design services for HVAC renovations, adding air conditioning to 3 existing gymansiums in Circle, KS USD 375.
Security upgrades to the entrances at Blue Valley Middle School, Pleasant Ridge Middle School, Oxford Middle School and Leawood Middle School for the Blue Valley School District.  KWalbert 6/19/13
The Kansas Travel Information Center enjoys a prominent location on the site of the Kansas Speedway. State officials strategically located this new travel information center to serve as a gateway to the Speedway, one of the largest tourist attractions in the State. The building features a large retail store which Kansas hopes will draw a large number of tourists and customers to this new building. The 5,060 SF facility contains a traveler's visitor center display area, as well as a retail store for racing souvenirs and novelty items. Interactive displays highlighting the popular events and information about the state of Kansas can be found throughout the building. The unique design of the center includes a sloping parapet, aluminum metal panels and an exterior wall that juts outward creating a very dynamic and recognizable profile that mirrors the unique forms of the Speedway. A metallic aluminum entry canopy, with slanted columns, gives a sense of action and motion to the building and makes reference to the aluminum sunshade at the existing ticket office.
Design Achievement – Circle Unified School District tasked DLR Group to design a comprehensive renovation and addition to their existing Circle High School. By utilizing a Small Learning Community educational model, DLR Group’s design provided Circle High School students with equal educational opportunities as their neighboring urban districts in Wichita, while maintaining the small town values that attract families to the district. Each of the three Small Learning Communities includes studios, workshops, labs, resource rooms, think tanks, and info links. This model allows for the maximum flexibility of the learning environments for changing curriculum. Flexible spaces accommodate almost any configuration to encourage teaching in small or large group settings. The new building is focused around a circular outdoor space created by the removal of the larger original classroom structure. As a visitor approaches the building, they will be greeted by this space that not only functions as a courtyard, but also as a classroom, amphitheater, circulation connector, and a multitude of student social zones. The media center and visual arts studio anchor this space, creating opportunities for inspiration in nature and a connection to the outside during the school day for students. Scope Summary –The 185,222 SF high school, is designed around three small learning communities that allow blended learning between grade levels and curriculums. Each SLC shares a centrally located media center and visual arts studio that’s connected. A circular outdoor space created by the removal of the larger original classroom structure functions as a courtyard, classroom, amphitheater, circulation connector, and a multitude of student social zones. The new location of the gymnasium and commons allow for community use outside of school hours. The high school will serve 800 students in grades 9-12. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, landscape design, and MEP and structural engineering for the project.
Design Achievement - Topeka Public Schools, with intent to support an innovative program in profession-based learning, sought to re-purpose an existing school building, the former Capital City High School, to house the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers. DLR Group’s design for the renovations and additions focuses on transforming the existing facility's image into a professional work and learning environment with highly interactive, creative, and technology-laden spaces. The renovated space provides new classroom, lab, research, and collaboration venues that reflect those found in high-end workplace facilities. The program relies on strong partnerships with business, industry, and post-secondary institutions. Students engage in real project work for real businesses, while receiving high school and college credit. Strands of study include Engineering/Advanced Manufacturing, Energy/Environment, Bioscience/Biomedical, Business, Health/Human Services, Teaching, and Design Thinking/Innovation. Scope Summary - The scope of work for this project encompasses improvements to approximately 71,200 SF of space in a repurposed high school facility. This includes facility master planning, interior demolition, construction, new finishes, and new furnishings and fixtures throughout. The new façade features a rich material palate that emphasizes a layering of metal panels over existing and new brick with new larger sections of glazing to provide ample daylight into the building interior. DLR Group (formerly Momenta) served as design architect with Architect One (prime architect) in Topeka. DLR Group provided programming, planning, and architectural design services for this project.
DLR Group’s design includes classrooms for kindergarten through fourth grades, with discovery areas and special education classrooms. The school is organized to provide maximum flexibility, convenience and comfort with a state-of-the-art learning environment for students and staff. Indian Trails Elementary School is divided into two unique areas, the activity area and the academic area. Each of the three academic wings includes a discovery area, classrooms, restrooms and a planning center for teachers. Activity spaces include the school’s gymnasium, music rooms, art rooms and commons, and were grouped together to keep academic wings quieter for students. The commons area has a stage that opens to the gymnasium for performances and large meetings or events. The media center is centrally located for convenient access to all grade-level classrooms. In addition, the administrative center also is centrally placed so all major entrances can be monitored visually to increase safety and security. Brick and metal panels are incorporated on the exterior of the building. A large cantilevered entry canopy welcomes students and visitors into the school.
Design Achievement - The Chillicothe Correctional Center for Women replaces an outdated prison constructed in 1887. DLR Group's design drastically improves safety and security for the public, staff and offenders. Non-conventional materials such as vinyl tile and carpet, as well as ceramic tile in the showers create a warmer environment for the female inmates. Additional amenities include a salon, religious center, library, bakery, cosmetology lab, gymnasium, and greenhouse. The facility includes a unique Women's Reception and Diagnostic Center to facilitate the intake function and the care of the female offender. These features include significant diagnostic staff and evaluation facilities in each housing unit, including medical and psychological evaluation as part of the intake process. This is one of the most intensive and comprehensive reception facilities in the U.S. with both maximum and minimum security classifications. Scope Summary - The Chillicothe Correctional Center consists of 15 buildings stretching over 500,000 SF on 80 acres. Eight separate housing units can accommodate 1,656 offenders, with the ability to expand up to 2,000. The building exteriors are pre-cast concrete and pre-engineered metal, with sloped metal roofs. Administration and visitation reside in the same building with central command. The central service building contains education and recreation, dining, warehouse, vocation-laundry, and motor vehicle repair. Security Levels 1 through 4 utilize non-conventional materials including vinyl tile, carpet, and ceramic tile in the showers, creating a softer interior atmosphere for the female occupants. More conventional materials such as concrete are maintained on Level 5. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering design services in fast-track design-build delivery with JE Dunn Construction, and completed in just 18 months. DLR Group provided Architecture, Mechanical, Electrical, and Structural Engineering
DLR Group served as Architect of Record on the new Overland Park Convention Center and adjacent Sheraton Hotel, helping the City achieve its dream of nearly 15 years. DLR Group teamed with design consultant TVS to complete the new facility. Situated on 20 acres, the convention center features 60,000 SF of exhibition space, with an additional 25,000 SF of ballroom/multi-purpose space. These areas can be combined for a total of 90,000 SF of space on the main level when incorporating the 5,000 SF of service hallway between the two areas.The courtyard level encompasses 15,000 SF of meeting space with an exceptional view of the courtyard. Approximately the size of a football field, the courtyard can be used for outdoor exhibits, meetings, weddings and other activities. An abundance of natural light flows through the large prefunction spaces outside the meeting and exhibition areas on both levels. Designers utilized warm, friendly colors, throughout the prefunction and open areas of the facility.One unique feature of the convention center is the Cyber Café located on the main level. This Café has a full-service latte stand, plus the fastest available computer connections for checking email or just surfing the net. Two levels of pedestrian walkways and a shared courtyard connect the convention center with the 412-room full-service hotel. Both surface and covered stall parking is available for approximately 750 vehicles, with an additional 415-stall structure attached to the hotel. The convention center opened to the public ahead of schedule in November 2002.
Safety and security upgrades to Adult Education Building, Central Services & Board of Education Building, Paola High School, Paola Middle School, Cottonwood Elementary and Sunflower Elementary
Design Achievement - The Raphael Hotel is one of the successful hotels on Kansas City's historic Country Club Plaza. A new ownership group selected DLR Group to conduct a Facility Asset Management Evaluation to thoroughly examine the building. After the study, DLR Group began design for a series of improvements to the well-known landmark. With the aim of maintaining operations and limiting guest intrusions, a phased approach to the renovations of the guest rooms and bathrooms were completed floor by floor. A number of guestrooms were converted into boardrooms and meeting rooms to serve as a conference center for the hotel's executive guests. The upgrades enrich the guest experience while preserving the romantic character of the hotel. Scope Summary - This nine-story, boutique hotel in Marriott's Autograph collection offers 126 rooms and suites. Upgrades to the elevator cabs and fire alarm system were completed with new energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems provided. Building envelope improvements included window replacement, brick restoration, and a new roof. DLR Group provided architecture and engineering services.
Design Achievement – Central Square will mark an innovative merger between the open green space of local parks with the parking and proximity of suburban malls. This project has a distinct Neo-Classical Mediterranean style and including landscaping, iconic architecture, a pedestrian-friendly layout, along with a combination of local commerce, unique shopping, fine dining, and effortless leisure. DLR Group’s design of Central Square will reinvigorate not only residents and retailers, but an entire community. Its unique blend of both national and local retailers and restaurants, and entertainment with residential and office space will create a dynamic mixed-use destination unrivaled in the Midwest. Scope Summary – The scope of this project encompasses the complete redevelopment of a shopping mall built in 1967 as part of a larger 60 acre mixed-use master plan. When complete this 518,000 or 241,000 SF mixed-use development will include a variety of dining options, high-end retail, entertainment and more. The development will be characterized by guarded trails and widened sidewalks. This promises a safe yet unimposing environment, accommodating everyone from young families to seasoned shoppers. DLR Group provided master planning, architectural and landscape services. Central Square will revitalize the local gathering place and transform the entire region.
This new 58,000-SF school will be located in a new residential sub-division on land donated by the sub-division developer. Initially, the school will accommodate 242 K-5 students, with a future planned addition to increase the total enrollment to 484 students. The 12.4-acre site will include ball fields, playground and multi-purpose fields. The school is organized into five zones: a K-1 wing; a 2-5 wing; a special education area; a central public zone with rotunda; media center; administration; art; and a gymnasium/commons area. A central rotunda space will function as the heart of the school and allow visual and physical access to all major spaces of the school. A sheltered outdoor play space is defined by the education wings of the school and a low garden wall.
Design Achievement – Columbia (Mo.) School District commissioned DLR Group to design a new, 21st Century elementary school to alleviate overcrowding and address rising energy costs within the District. The design complements the natural surroundings and adjacent residential neighborhood. A transparent, two-story main entrance invites visitors into the facility, and provides extensive views of the wooded site beyond. The design comprises grade-level pods, each featuring a different interior design scheme related to the State of Missouri. The themes are the state bird (Bluebird), fish (Catfish), flower (Hawthorn), insect (Honey Bee), reptile (Box Turtle), and amphibian (Bullfrog). This approach promotes the State's heritage and emphasizes the natural wildlife and environment of Missouri. The grade-level pods are divided among four houses linked by a transparent circulation spine. This spine forms nodes between houses providing natural daylight and views to the woods. Classrooms surround discovery areas that provide the flexibility to facilitate group learning and project collaboration. Scope Summary – The scope of this project encompassed design and construction of a new 90,842 SF elementary school. Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School serves 600 students from kindergarten through fifth grade. The design utilized a ground source heat pump, abundant natural daylighting, an energy monitoring kiosk, and regional and recycled materials. DLR Group provided integrated planning; architecture; mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural engineering; interiors; and landscape design services.
Design Achievement - DLR Group was commissioned to design the new Battle High School, for Columbia Public Schools. DLR Group’s design alleviates overcrowding and allows the district to realign grade levels to provide increased educational opportunities for students. The circular main entrance plaza features an amphitheater for outdoor learning, student interaction, performances and community events. The media center and four education towers are arranged along the entrance plaza radius to maximize natural daylighting and to provide additional green space. The towers promote collaboration with academic and teacher resource centers and natural gathering spaces. The flexible towers are self-contained for all core classes and support small learning communities as well as interdisciplinary instruction. The activity wing is connected to the education towers through the administration and commons, which allows for maximum supervision and after-hours community use of the facility. Scope Summary - This 301,479 square foot high school serves 1,850 students in grades 9-12, and allows the district’s two existing high schools that currently serve grades 10-12 to include ninth grade students. The education towers are designed for maximum flexibility with equally distributed general education, science, and elective classrooms. Integrated computer resource labs and student support areas also foster teamwork and collaboration within the community. The activity area of the school includes a performing arts center, visual arts studio with outdoor patio, competition gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium and career education center. Athletic facilities include a football stadium with track, baseball / softball fields, soccer / practice fields and tennis courts. DLR Group provided planning, architecture, interior, and MEP engineering services for the project. Prior to this project, DLR Group provided assessment services for Columbia School District’s 31 facilities, which revealed the need for improvements and new facilities to relieve overcrowding, meet educational goals, and accommodate population growth.
Meadowlark Elementary School (not Smith)
DLR Group worked closely with Saint Therese Parish to develop a master plan and building design that provides a learning environment enriched by a focus on Christ-centered education. After an extensive facility assessment that evaluated the feasibility of renovation versus new construction, the client requested a plan that encompassed the combination of existing buildings and new construction.   The Saint Therese Education and Parish Center, a K-8 facility, connects the two existing buildings; a 20,000 SF pre-k education center and a 9,500 SF gymnasium. The new 96,000 SF two-story structure is situated on a steeply sloping site and will provide access for students and parish members to academic and support spaces for after-hours activities and other parish ministries. The main entrance includes a reflection area that emphasizes Catholic values and supports the educational mission of the Parish.
Design Achievement – DLR Group’s design for the additions and renovations at Salina South High School responds to the District's goals of creating an engaged learner through flexible and adaptable spaces in a safe and secure environment. The design includes two major classroom wings and an auxiliary gymnasium, along with an improved new main entrance to the high school. The school is organized around two distinct learning environments – one centered on the Humanities and one centered around STEM. CTE courses are dispersed between the two learning environments to reinforce the connection between the core curriculum and the advanced CTE curriculum. Large sliding doors further increase the connection between spaces and create a highly flexible and collaborative environment. The commons and media center link the two learning environments together and become a hub for activity within the school. Scope Summary - The 275,000 SF high school accommodates 1,477 students in two distinct learning environments centered around Humanities and STEM. The organization within each learning environment reinforces the overall building concepts of flexibility and collaboration. Each learning environment contains CTE courses adjacent to the core curriculum spaces. These CTE courses offer high visibility from the circulation space to showcase and enhance awareness of the rigorous coursework happening within and enhance the learning environment and academic interaction for students. Collaboration space is located centrally in the learning environments connecting to both the learning environments and CTE courses. The student commons connects the existing performing arts and athletic spaces, allowing the commons to be a pre- and post-function space for public events and activities. DLR Group provided architecture, engineering and interior design services for this project.

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