Location: 
Loganville, Georgia
Total Square Feet: 103,760
Construction Period: July 2001 to July 2002

CONSTRUCTION TEAM
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Willett Engineering, Inc. - 3528 Habersham at Northlake, Tucker, GA 30084
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Salloum Construction - 315 Newton Bridge Road, Athens, GA 30607
ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEER: Bolden-Williams & Associates, Inc. - 3066 Highway 29, South, Lawrenceville, GA 30044
CIVIL ENGINEER: Street Smarts - 3090 Premiere Parkway, #200, Duluth, GA 30097

Youth Elementary School is the second school built from a prototype elementary school plan designed by Sy Richards, Architect Inc. for Walton County Schools. The first prototype school was H.D. Atha Elementary School (see file EU020754, July-August 2002 issue of Design Cost Data(TM). The two schools differ in modifications made to accommodate the site; additional special systems (data and security); and a new color scheme to give the school its own identity.

Just as its predecessor, Youth Elementary was designed for 950 students. The core elements (Media Center, Dining Room, Kitchen and Restrooms) were designed to handle 1,200 students in anticipation for growth. All classroom wings were planned where two additional classrooms could be added to the end. All special education, planning and storage rooms in the center of the main building can be converted into full size classrooms. Utilities are in place on the north side of the site to handle the inevitable need for portable classrooms in this fast growing area of Walton County.

The facility is composed of a main building and a pre-engineered metal building for physical education activities. The school provides classrooms from pre-K through 5th grades, 2 art classrooms, 2 music classrooms, 3 special education classrooms and a special services area for the more severely disabled students. This Special Services area has 2 classrooms (directly connected to a resource room), 2 toilet rooms, a laundry room and a changing room.

The Media Center features a separate story-telling area outlined by classic "Tuscan" columns, with built-in stepped benches and cove lighted ceiling. The Dining Room, with a portable stage, serves as a multiple function area for school activities as well as for after hours activities. This area can be open to the public while the rest of the school is closed. The lobby area features a 24-foot high ceiling with exposed steel structure and clerestory windows, patterned natural stone-look ceramic tile and brick veneer to match exterior elevations. The use of the exterior materials, especially the brick veneer for its warm colors in the lobby space was an effort to provide an inviting place for all users and visitors. The lobby's height and roof outline were intentionally designed to create a volume as a clear indication of the building's main entrance.

MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS
DIV 04: Brick: Boral.
DIV 05: Structural Steel: Nucor; Metal Fabrications: Balco.
DIV 07: Built-Up: Johns Manville.
DIV 08: Hollow Metal Doors: Habersham; Wood Doors: Weyerhaeuser; Hardware: Markar.
DIV 09: Acoustical: USG; Acoustical Wall Panels: Acousticore(TM) by Silent Source; VCT: AZROCK; Resilient Sport Floor: Tuflex; Carpet: Shaw.
DIV 10: Walkway Covers: Peachtree; Operable Partitions: Acousti-Seal®.