For six long years, the Fell Charter School struggled heavily with funding. Classes were held in second-hand modular buildings and at the church hall next door. Then in 2012, the school was given more than $6 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build a brand-new facility.
School administrators knew they needed to focus on value engineering to make the most of their budget, so they decided on metal panels. Specifically, Hefti-Rib® by Fabral, for its superior strength-to-weight ratio and spanning capabilities — making it the perfect canvas for creative designs.
To create their vision, the school worked closely with Fabral and architects from Burkavage Design Associates. They focused on using a variety of colors, rotating the panels, changing orientation, and varying the height on different portions of the building.
The new facility covers 18,000 square feet, includes 14 new classrooms, with a new cafeteria and a new music room. The school board, parents, and kids were thrilled with the outcome. Following the move, enrollment increased by 25 percent.
