Williams Bay Elementary School

Williams Bay, WI

Project Overview

After several years of study, the Williams Bay School District decided the time had come to retire its elementary school. The new grade school would become an addition to the existing junior/senior high school, serving as a centralized campus designed to meet the needs of students today and in the future.

A strong heritage in K-12 education work made for an ideal partnership between raSmith’s structural engineers and the architect, who knew we could handle the task. The school’s bold architectural design needed to attach to a conventional existing building, and the architect challenged raSmith to provide lateral stability for the building’s complex geometry without using any exposed diagonal bracing.

Our engineers responded by providing a relatively unique solution that uses rigid steel frames to give the building lateral support. The steel framing also allowed the team to create a more open learning environment that can be adapted in the future if needs change. Additionally, construction of the gym moved quicker because the team employed precast panels in the design.

The school project received a 2016 Top Projects award from The Daily Reporter.

Photographer: C&N Photography

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