The flames, heat, smoke and water used to put out the fire, along with the resulting exposure to weather, left much of the building’s interior beyond repair. With a rebuild in order, the layout was altered to provide more useful space. The library and 4K/5K rooms were enlarged, and a computer lab and an art room were added.
Without sacrificing the classic features of the building, a vibrant color palette energizes the space and provides a fun, welcoming tone for students and parish members. The wide classroom corridor is outfitted with coat hooks, raised lockers, and benches to accommodate winter clothing, taking off wet footwear, and the general messiness that comes with Wisconsin’s seasonal weather.
A reception desk forms the hub with views of both entrances, and the second floor was reconfigured to provide storage space for religious education classes and meeting rooms. The kitchen and cafeteria in the basement, while relatively undamaged, received an upgrade to incorporate them into the new design. The school connects to the church through a social space off the lobby, both for ease of going from building to building and bringing the school into the worship areas.
The restoration also brought back the original large window openings that had been minimized during previous remodeling. The ability to reinvigorate the interior with daylight improved not only the educational quality of the spaces, but the visual appeal of the school, inside and out.
