Designing a space to allow for continued growth into the future.
Clearview Elementary, home to a sought after Spanish Immersion Program in St. Cloud School District, had not undergone an expansion for nearly 30 years when it called on Origin Design to design a plan to give the PK-5 school much needed classroom, cafeteria and gym space and position the site to better meet growing enrollment demands into the future.
Built in 1961 on 56 acres, Clearview completed additions in 1971 and 1987 to bring the total building footprint to nearly 70,000 square feet. Enrollment growth fueled in part by the school’s launch of a Spanish Immersion Program in 2007 led the elementary to add four portable classrooms in the 2011-2012 school year.
![](https://origindesign.com/images/portfolio/clearview-gym-full.jpg)
project overview
Origin Design developed a master plan to transform the Clearview site to PK-12 and then identified portions of this master plan would be implemented to address current enrollment growth. Multiple master plans for the district have suggested expanding the school to PK-8.
The project involved a 7,200-square-foot remodel and expansion, including adding kindergarten and early childhood classrooms to the east wing of the building and upper grade classrooms to the west wing of the building. A series of design adjustments also created better general classrooms, art space and special education space throughout the building.
The first stage of a two-stage gym to the north side of the building, and rooms that encroached on the existing cafeteria were removed to expand cafeteria seating and serving capacity and to open up the space to the rest of the school.
The project also included the replacement of the school’s entire heating and ventilating system to create a more efficient system and improve indoor air quality into the building. This system brings more fresh air into the building and added dehumidification to the building.
The site also underwent upgrades to provide additional parking, improve parent drop-off and pick-up areas to increase student safety and address drainage issues.
![](https://origindesign.com/images/portfolio/clearview-classroom-full.jpg)