Kelsey Norman Elementary Addition
Special space for special education at Joplin school
Before the Kelsey Norman Elementary School addition project was complete in the fall of 2021, the school’s special education classes were held in trailers behind the main building.
School officials admitted that there were many issues with the trailer setup, including feeling detached from the rest of the school and dealing with the weather.
So when the school celebrated the opening of the 8,500 SF addition, special education paraprofessional Laurie Heritage said it was a “dream come true.”
Work began on the $2.2 million project in March 2021. The addition gave Kelsey Norman Elementary two new kindergarten classes, a conference room, two special education classrooms, a Title 1 reading classroom and a large open space.
The classrooms feature operable partitions allowing for greater flexibility in teaching. The large, open collaboration space allows several classes to use it at the same time. Larger community events can be held in this space, as well.
The exterior has custom-matched brick, as well as metal panels, with a large front canopy. There are custom-built raised garden beds for the special needs students to plant vegetables and flowers.
Despite delays in bar joists that compressed the overall schedule, the project was completed on time and under budget. Crossland was actually able to give back unused contingency money at the end of the project.
Crossland had a good working relationship with architects Corner Greer Associates, which helped the project stay on schedule despite challenges that arose.
Project Facts
Industry Sector: Educational
Cost: $2,225,355
Size: 8,484 SF
Delivery Method: Construction Management
Self-Perform: Demo, Finish Carpentry, Rough Carpentry, Steel Erection, Concrete
Owner: Joplin Schools
Architect: CGA Architects
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