E.J.H. Beard Administration Center Renovation

Newton, IA

All projects
Hallway with monochrome carpet tiling and wood accent wall
Exterior overall
Looking into office entrance
Office with red carpet and ceiling elements
Exterior entrance
Entrance overhang with wood soffit and architectural columns

Looking to revitalize the main thoroughfare to downtown, Newton Community School District choose to renovate and relocate their administrative services to an abandoned building which had served as a community hub for decades. After a total renovation, it now serves as the school district’s administration and educational hub. The building is separated into two programs, with the front half of the building serving as the administration center and the back half dedicated to an education center.

The new administration center houses the administrative staff offices, a large conference room, and support spaces for the district. The main public entrance parallels with the street and uses the existing canopy structure which is a distinct feature to the original design. The entry leads into the main lobby space that has direct access to the large conference room and administration reception. The reception then continues on to the offices and support spaces. The large conference room will serve the district’s boardroom and professional development space and can break down into three separate conference spaces creating the ultimate flexibility.

Design Insight

After researching numerous site options, the district chose an abandoned grocery store and we successfully transformed it into a highly functional, modern administrative center.