Union Elementary School
Montpelier
Category PhotographersMatthew Bernhardt
Updates Rejuvenate an Historic School Building
Union Elementary School (UES) is one of several revitalization projects that gbA has undertaken with Montpelier-Roxbury School District. The UES project featured work in a few areas, all of which upgraded finishes and energy-efficient lighting. The Special Services area was reconfigured to allow for a new conference space, which created flexibility and efficiency for the Special Services team.
The project paid special attention to enhancing existing conditions in the school’s beloved auditorium and “little gym.” Replacing existing floors with cushioned flooring resulted in safer, and more enjoyable experience for active children. New finishes throughout married warm natural wood with bright color, resulting in a happy, playful space. New basketball hoops were installed, and sound attenuation panels provided greater quiet in adjacent spaces. Work on the gym included asbestos abatement of ceiling tiles.
Aiming to rejuvenate the majesty of the 1938 auditorium, paint finishes were updated to emphasize architectural ornament. Overhead lighting was upgraded to showcase the space’s beauty and enhance the audience experience. Seating end panels were replaced for a final sprucing up.
Working with gbA Designs was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their inspired and meticulous work has profoundly enriched our students’ experiences in our Little Gym, transforming it into a vibrant, energizing space where learning and movement come alive. In our auditorium, their thoughtful enhancements have elevated every performance, infusing the space with a sense of magic the moment audiences step through the doors. gbA Designs didn’t just redesign our spaces, they helped us capture and amplify the heart and spirit of our community.
– Katie Barea, Principal of Union Elementary School in Montpelier, VTgbA transformed two of the district's most important spaces, the Union Elementary School Auditorium and Main St. Middle School Gym, from drab and outdated to beautiful and exciting. Through the simple / elegant use of color, gbA was able to highlight the historic detailing of the UES Auditorium, which had been lost under a monotone paint job. The MSMS Gym was once a hodgepodge of outdated equipment, unused climbing walls and murals into a clean crisp space, which is now considered one of the best middle school gyms in central Vermont.
– Andrew LaRosa, MRPS Director of Facilities
