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Beauford

Beach Lover
Jun 23, 2015
126
76
Designed with some of the latest technologies, project officials said the concepts are geared toward the future of education.

"Well, it's all about educating the kids. Philosophies change, you know, when you went to school they taught you a different way than they do here and we're always trying to find a better way to educate our kids," President of DAG Architects Jack Baker explained.

An innovative media center, state-of-the-art labs, and courtyards for outdoor learning spaces are just a few of the progressive concepts built into this plan.

"We've got to give the educators and the students the tools they need to excel and that's what we're trying to do here with the way that we designed the functional learning environment," Baker added.

Aside from making the most out of every space, much of the design and materials used will maximize the school's efficiency.

"The physical part of the building is built with ICF, insulated concrete forms, which makes it super energy efficient, in fact the electrical load on this school is about 50 percent less than some of the recent schools they built in Walton County and in Northwest Florida," said Baker.

"The orientation of the building is north and south which maximizes the solar heat gain and loss as well also the natural lighting has proven to be more effective with children's learning environments and thirdly our insulation factor with the insulated concrete form is basically were creating a Yeti cooler," Gardner said.

The innovative design is not only leading the way for the classroom but also safety and security.

"Security is something [the] Walton County School Board has been very proactive about for many years not just starting today," Baker said.

Insulated impact glass, limited access points, and even the landscaping all contribute to providing a secure campus.

Spreading over 150,000 square feet of land, the facility will house 1,000 student stations for the expanding South Walton population.

"We don't just build for now, we're building for the future," Gardner added. "So this will hopefully satisfy that need for hopefully five to six years from now maybe ten."

Officials said they expect the project to be complete by spring 2019 and open to students in fall 2019.

Dune Lakes Elementary designed for the future of education

The project is estimated at $35 million.
 

Beauford

Beach Lover
Jun 23, 2015
126
76
Many elementary school students in South Walton will have a new place to learn next year.

Dune Lakes Elementary will be the first elementary school built in South Walton County in more than 20 years. The project has been in the works for more than three years.

“We have grown greatly, especially in the south end,” Schools Superintendent Russell Hughes told the Daily News last year. “We are over capacity in all of the south-end schools. It’s a great need for our students and families.”

There were 8,822 public school students in Walton County in 2016-17. So far this year there are more than 9,100 students, and that number is expected to grow.

Last year, Bay Elementary — one of the two elementary schools in the south end of the county — had 15 portable classrooms. Officials say the addition of a third school will help ease the overcrowding.

Dune Lakes Elementary is being built by Childers Construction Co. on 33.5 acres off U.S. Highway 98, 6.5 miles east of U. S. Highway 331. It will be part of an overall complex that will eventually include a community sports park to the north and a mixed-use housing and commercial development to the west.

The $35 million project will consist of 150,000 square feet with 59 classrooms that can accommodate 1,012 students. The school will hold traditional elementary grades K-5.

The School District finalized the school’s name last spring, according to Hughes. Officials allowed third- through fifth-graders at Bay and Van R. Butler Elementary Schools to submit names that the School Board later voted on.

New school rising in South Walton
 

Kurt

Admin
Staff member
Oct 15, 2004
2,233
4,925
SoWal
mooncreek.com
Some lucky kids and families are going to be very excited when they see their beautiful new school. DAG architects did a great job with design and I appreciate the inclusion of my photos in large displays which highlight our ecosystem and traditions in Walton County.

190711-dune-lakes-elementary-001-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-002-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-003-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-004-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-005-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-006-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-008-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-010-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-012-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-013-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-014-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-015-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-016-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-017-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-018-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-019-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-020-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-021-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-022-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-023-sowal-2000.jpg
 

Kurt

Admin
Staff member
Oct 15, 2004
2,233
4,925
SoWal
mooncreek.com
Next door is a new office building that is leasing. And behind the school is the new SoWal Sports Complex and new apartment buildings under construction.

190711-dune-lakes-elementary-028-sowal-2000.jpg 190711-dune-lakes-elementary-029-sowal-2000.jpg
 

Jimmy T

Beach Fanatic
Apr 6, 2015
866
1,235
The new school was desperately needed and is a great step forward for us. Bay elementary was way over capacity and the portables were pretty bad. The new school is more safe and secure, with more than enough room for our students and teachers. I also think that they did a very nice job on the planning and design.
 

Kurt

Admin
Staff member
Oct 15, 2004
2,233
4,925
SoWal
mooncreek.com
The new school was desperately needed and is a great step forward for us. Bay elementary was way over capacity and the portables were pretty bad. The new school is more safe and secure, with more than enough room for our students and teachers. I also think that they did a very nice job on the planning and design.
Bay Elementary got sat on! What a relief that it will go back to an easier situation. Watching the portables carted off feels good. It will be nice to have a sports field again and children playing.
 
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