The Cherokee Elementary School Rebuild and Remodel project, built for Scottsdale Unified School District, included select demolition, renovation, and new additions to an elementary school in Paradise Valley, AZ. The project occurred in three phases. The first phase included the construction of two classroom buildings and the update of safety and security systems throughout the existing campus. This phase also included the construction of playground structures, walkways, outdoor learning spaces, and fields for soccer and baseball. The second phase included the partial demolition and complete reconstruction of the campus administrative and multi-purpose buildings. New construction during this phase included two gymnasiums, a kitchen with a stage, additional outdoor learning centers, and a state-of-the-art media center. The third phase included the demolition of the two northmost buildings, which were replaced by a parking lot, an extended cueing lane, and a drop-off zone. A unique feature of this project was incorporating an interactive school bus inside the library, based on the beloved Junie B. Jones novels, the first of which is titled “Stupid Smelly Bus.” The author of the series, Barbra Park, says she drew her inspiration for the character of Junie from her time at Cherokee Elementary School. Incorporating the bus within the library, later designated a Literary Landmark by the Arizona State Library, took excellent planning and coordination with the steel structure, building, and roofing all constructed around the bus. The school was built on a concrete foundation supported by footings with a concrete masonry unit, steel joint structural frame, an integral color concrete masonry unit, three-coat stucco exterior, and a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roof.
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