When Fred Long, School Director of Facility services at the Kent School District in Washington state approached Aries in 2016 to design and develop the new concept with a 12,500 square foot permanent modular structure, Aries was more than happy to accept his challenge. The new structure would be for The Outreach Program (TOP), a program that prepares special needs students for their future by providing community-based transition services to enhance their quality of life upon school completion. TOP currently serves 44 students and employs four certified teachers and 13 paraprofessionals. Their current facility was built in 1951 and in need of some updates. Its 4,420 square foot layout does not provide the room needed for growth, let alone sustain its current enrollment. With the additional space, the new facility provides ample room and will allow the program to grow into the future.
The scheduled deadline for this project was the fall of 2016, so Aries devised a concurrent construction approach that saved almost 40% of the project timeline. Kim Neill, Aries Vice President of Major Projects, along with an accomplished Aries team, used an off-site building method and supervised the site preparation at the Kent Phoenix Academy, in Kent, Washington, while Whitley Manufacturing built the structure in Marysville, WA.
The new building includes five classrooms, one of which will be set up as an occupational and physical therapy room. The facility also has a staff workroom, a multipurpose room, and two residential kitchens — one of which is handicapped accessible so that students have the opportunity to learn how to cook and possibly then cook for themselves and each other. TOP students and teachers will enjoy plenty of natural lighting because Aries designed the structure to have four modular roof sections above the large common area with high vaulted ceilings that open to a row of clear-story windows.
“This was a special project for us here at Aries: we love it when our values align with the work that we do.” Says Mary Grim, Aries Regional Administrator. Aries has a long history of providing services to those in need. Aries specializes in disaster relief and provides considerable help in the form of emergency lodging and workforce solutions for emergency first responders – as well as temporary to permanent modular construction and modular building solutions. Grim adds, “With this project, we are happy to create a space where young people with disabilities can learn and thrive, be in community, and become independent all at the same place.”
ABOUT ARIES
Aries offers a multitude of education building solutions for school districts – from temporary portable classrooms to permanent, multi-unit campuses, let Aries bring your temporary educational facility to the next level of innovation. Our award-winning team of experienced professionals will design floor plans and structural accommodations that will meet all your relocatable education needs.
Become a customer today! Visit Aries: www.ariesbuildings.com, or call (U.S.) 1-888-995-2971. You can also contact us via our website, or request a quote here.
