Elevating school safety.
As the first project completed under a $145 million bond initiative, Roosevelt Elementary’s new addition is more than just a gym—it’s a life-saving, code-compliant ICC 500 Storm Shelter. Designed to safely accommodate and protect every student and staff member in the school, it replaces the utility tunnels previously used for emergencies, which were non-ADA-accessible.
The new facility was constructed in just eight days during the winter season. It features insulated wall panels and durable interior finishes that mirror the exterior design, bringing cohesion, resilience, and comfort to a high-traffic educational space. The project features unique formliner textures on both the exterior and interior walls. Custom cast-in lettering adds a distinctive touch to the building’s exterior façade, as well as to an interior hallway wall, creating a decorative element while providing durability. Cast-in electrical components and embedded hardware for doors and windows all contribute to a cleaner aesthetic for an active environment.
These details also support the stringent requirements of ICC 500 compliance, ensuring the space can withstand extreme weather. The inherent dead load of prefabricated concrete plays a vital role in storm shelter design, helping to resist uplift forces and reducing the need for excessive hold-down connections.
This innovative addition not only enhances the safety of Roosevelt Elementary students and staff—it also sets a precedent for future school improvements across the district, showing how smart design and durable materials can create safer, more inspiring learning environments.
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