Oak Heights Elementary hosted an open house on Monday, Feb. 10, showing off its renovated building designed to provide better security and safety, with added features that make it a more inviting space.
The new entrance and additional windows received top praise from staff, and Principal Todd Barrett calls the new library the “crown jewel.”
The original building, designed in 1947, placed the main entrance facing what essentially was an extended driveway. Today, the main entrance faces Elm Street and features a timber-framed entryway similar to those at Hawthorne, Holley and Foster schools.
The relocated entrance provides better security by the fact that reception can see who’s approaching the school.
“My favorite part is that we face the community,” Secretary Jill Moore said. “Instead of our face being hidden, we get to be a part of the community and look out on everything.”
Another noticeable difference for those who’ve visited the school in the past are walls that are now lined with tall windows. Barrett noted that, in addition to the fact that more windows provide a measure of security, the space becomes more inviting to the kids because they can see in and out much better. He and other staff also noted also how much more natural light is allowed in the rooms.
“It just feels more warm,” Barrett said.
Third-grade teacher Laurel Adams added one more observation about the beauty of the new windows.
“It used to be the windows were so thin,” she said. “It’s so loud. Every classroom could hear every single sound, it would echo. With these (new) windows, there was full-on recess out there and I was still able to teach.”
The library was moved to a different location and its original room was converted into two classrooms. With a wall of windows, and new bookshelves and carpeting, Librarian Brittany Polley said she feels the space is more inviting.
Changes and improvements to the school include shear walls and strengthened roof in the main building (which help stabilize walls during wind and seismic activity), reinforced bowstring trusses supporting the gym’s roof structure, renovated gym basement, renovated stage structure, an upgraded HVAC system, LED lighting and energy efficient windows, new siding and classroom projectors.
Barrett pointed out that the combined gym and cafeteria space originally had no windows at all, but now windows near the ceiling allow light inside the building, and new doors also include windows.
“(The old doors) were all solid, so we couldn’t see out when we were serving and doing things in here, so it just wasn’t safe,” he said.
Demolition began on June 14 last year. The project was primarily funded with a $2.5 million seismic grant through Business Oregon, with district funds covering the rest.
“This is great,” Barrett said. “It’s a huge investment in the community, and it’ll be a benefit for many generations to come.”
