Scope of Work:

 

SGS served as the Prime Contractor / Design-Builder on this new Pre-School and Children’s Education addition for the Bethel Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. This project included the selective demolition of approximately 15,000 sq. ft. of religious education space, and construction of a new two-story building approximately 29,700 sq. ft. of new education space. 

​

The entire first floor is dedicated to preschool age children and includes an indoor play/activity area and a reception center. The entire second floor provides quality education space for school age children and is uniquely designed to accommodate portable sound systems, video production, and a puppet performance setting.    

​

The preschool department is located on the 1st floor and consists of 13 classrooms for infants up to five years of age.  The central reception area was designed to maximize security, providing a single entry point into the preschool department.  The floor plan arrangement allows the entry to be continuously monitored, both visually and by surveillance video.  A room for mothers nursing is located adjacent to the infant room. An indoor play/activity area is centrally located for convenient access by the entire preschool department.  The play/activity is partially enclosed with windows, some of which contain one-way vision glass, allowing all activities to be observed without disturbing or interfering with on-going activities.  

​

The children’s department is located on the 2nd floor and consists of 14 classrooms for children in 1st grade thru 6th grade.  The floor plan design provides for a large assembly area to accommodate large-group settings, or the area can be sub-divided by operable walls to create 4 separate classrooms.  

An extension corridor provides a new west entrance to the church complex.  Portions of the new Lobby and Welcome Center, equaling approximately 660 square feet, are two-story in overall height. The elevator for the facility features two separate entrances, allowing for elevator use without exiting the secured children’s area. Before new construction commenced, an existing building, identified as “The Rock”, was demolished and the site prepared for new construction.

​

During the course of the project, the Church also requested renovation work be done to the existing choir room and the adjacent first floor offices, as well as to the existing classrooms on the first and second floor.  The renovation work consisted of replacing the worn flooring and repainting all classroom doors, walls and corridors.  The renovation work to the choir room consisted of a complete remodel. The new choir room consists of acoustical wall treatment, a stage area, risers, a complete sound system, storage room with choir robe and sheet music storage. The remodel of the offices adjacent to the choir room consist of a reception area, office with a restroom and a music storage office that is lined floor to ceiling with millwork shelving and an island in the center of the office.  

     

The exterior consists primarily of exterior insulation and finish system (EFIS) to match the existing buildings. Panels are detailed to provide architectural accents at the windows, and additional reveals were added to provide visual interest to the remaining areas.  Each entry is covered by a canopy offering protection from weather elements. Existing parking spaces and access were redesigned for efficient traffic flow. A landscaping theme was developed and carried from the new addition through to the existing building.