Grand Rapids Public Schools passed a referendum in May 2018 to build two new Elementary Schools (East and West) and remodel/expand Cohasset Elementary School.
The two new Elementary Schools replaced three smaller schools that had extensive maintenance needs and were not designed to support current or future educational delivery models. Wold worked in collaboration with ICS to plan two identical buildings that are designed to support current enrollment and programming while being accommodating for future adaptability and expansion. The buildings have 2-grade-level learning communities that include classrooms surrounding a shared flexible learning area, flexible labs for STEM and large group activities, and a modern media center as the “living room” of the entire school and community. The projects emphasize natural daylighting, flexibility, colors and materials derived from the local area, and community partnerships and collaboration.