By Press release

Work to convert the former Penn's Grove School building into the new Hopewell School for the Oxford Area School District's fifth and sixth graders is nearing completion in time for the first day of school on August 31. Hopewell School will accommodate 825 students in a 121,000 square foot facility -- a 59,000 square foot increase to the 1963 building.

The Oxford Area Board of School Directors and AP3C Architects of Philadelphia worked cooperatively to maximize the project's approximately $25 million cost through innovative use of existing and new spaces. Renovations have been made to approximately 51,000 square feet of existing space, with a two-story, 70,000 square foot addition built in the area facing Nottingham School, where 12 modular classrooms were formerly located.

The addition, which is designed to complement the look of the two-story addition at the new Penn's Grove School directly to the west, houses 32 classrooms designed for the dyad system which has been utilized in the fifth and sixth grades at Elk Ridge School for many years. Dyads are an alternative to the subject-specific classroom and better enable cooperative learning, group projects and team teaching.

Each floor of the addition includes four special education rooms. The first floor also includes the library and computer lab and a new cafeteria and kitchen. The cafeteria features a glass curtain wall that provides an open and natural feel while using natural light to conserve energy.

The interior of the existing one-story classroom building has been completely renovated and will be used for art, music and health education. This area also includes another computer lab and a TV production studio.

The existing construction will also house Hopewell's administrative and guidance offices and health suite. The former cafeteria will be converted into a large group instruction area and performance space.

All voice, data and video technology is completely new throughout the building, and the project incorporates state of the art climate technology and heating/air conditioning systems. Lighting fixtures will utilize lamps and electronic ballasts specially designed to conserve energy.

The design incorporates "borrowed" light by allowing natural light to penetrate the corridors through the classrooms. To facilitate the use of borrowed light, all original windows in the existing space have been replaced with a more energy efficient model. All classrooms will have operable windows for natural ventilation and will utilize indirect and natural lighting.

The existing gymnasium and locker rooms have been renovated and, due to the quality of construction, the existing lockers were retained rather than replaced.

Buses will drop off and pick up students on the east side of the new addition, which will also serve as the bus area for Nottingham School. Additionally, this area will have parking space for events held at the adjacent football stadium during non-school hours.

The existing west side parking lot will provide parking for visitors, faculty and staff members. The former bus lane has been converted to a parent loading and unloading zone, providing for safe separation of bus and vehicular traffic.

New landscaping will significantly enhance the overall appearance of the school grounds, which will feature an age appropriate playground. Like the new Oxford Area High School and Penn's Grove School buildings, Hopewell School will be fully handicapped accessible and comply with requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

With the movement of the fifth and sixth grades to Hopewell School, Elk Ridge School will house all of the district's first graders and half of the second grade, half of which will continue to attend Nottingham School.