The new James Baldwin Elementary School replaced the 300-seat Northgate Elementary on the same 5.81-acre site, expanding capacity to 650 K-5 students in a 95,000 SF multi-story building. The design followed the District’s elementary specifications, with classrooms organized around learning commons and secure entry points, while maintaining harmony with the surrounding residential neighborhood. The original school building and portables were demolished to make room for a hardtop play area and field.

During the 18-month preconstruction phase, Lydig collaborated with SPS, the design team, staff, students, and community members to incorporate their input. Despite the pandemic’s supply chain issues and market volatility, the project maintained its GMP. Parking concerns were addressed by securing agreements with local churches, reducing neighborhood traffic and minimizing interactions between construction and school staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.