Elmhurst, Illinois’ original Lincoln Elementary School was built in 1916. After a quick tear down, a new one is now open. While the footprint is roughly the same, so much has changed with how the school looks and functions from 100 years ago.
Under a new Illinois state building code, certain schools must have storm shelters. Elmhurst’s new Lincoln Elementary School features walls of precast wall plank, tornado-rated doors at every entrance, and WINCO FEMA 361 – ICC 500 Tornado windows in the gym, aka the Safe Room for storms. These Winco windows feature one polycarbonate lite and one insulated, laminated lite. This dual glazing ensures glass shards remain intact on the laminate if the windows are broken due to heavy winds or flying debris. The gym windows are also trimmed with Kynar paint in primary colors of yellow, orange, green, and blue.
The colorful palette continues into the classrooms. The trim surrounding the Series 8325F windows were painted to coordinate with book nooks in the classrooms. The big windows provide a homey feel to the school that reflects the surrounding neighborhood. Children in each classroom have a chance to sit and read a book or just enjoy the outdoor views from these unique nooks.
Winco offers a wide array of glazing choices and this project showcases that capability beautifully. Winco’s clear anodized 3325 Zero Sightline windows are used in the curtainwall section of the building. The 3325 series is designed to allow occupants control of airflow and their overall environment.
Lincoln Elementary School has been rebuilt into a welcoming place with the latest tools and tech for modern learning in a safe and secure environment.
