Highland Elementary School

To improve safety, accessibility, and capacity, Highland Community Unit School District #5 initiated a campus-wide improvement plan. As part of this effort, the district identified key upgrades at the Highland Elementary School site to better support the needs of students and staff.

Oates Associates provided surveying and civil engineering services to support this design-build project, which involved the demolition of the primary school and multi-purpose buildings to create the needed space for improvements at the adjacent elementary school.  The former building sites were repurposed for expanded parking to accommodate more vehicles, bus lanes, and designated parent drop-off and pick-up areas to improve safety and traffic circulation, and a soft surface playground as well as asphalt area for basketball courts and other recreation.  The team evaluated several design alternatives for the bus lanes, drop-off / pick-up areas, and parking lot after reviewing input from the bus company, stakeholder interviews, and past traffic studies to ensure safe and efficient circulation. Through data-driven analysis and scenario planning, we identified solutions that met operational needs, preserved site aesthetics, and optimized traffic flow while accommodating future flexibility.  The Highland Elementary School remained in place with renovations involving preserving key existing spaces while modernizing classroom and common spaces.

For the overall site, our services included planning and coordination related to demolition, site grading and drainage, utility work, and permitting. We worked closely with local agencies to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and to support the district’s goals for a safe, accessible, and efficient campus environment. Modifications to stormwater management and utility systems were designed to meet current standards while accommodating future growth. The project was phased to allow uninterrupted school operations.