Our team faced several key obstacles during the design and development of the new Langston Elementary Leadership Academy (LELA). As part of the Hot Springs School District, Langston Elementary School was originally Langston Negro Junior-Senior High School, Garland County’s first school for African-American students. When voters approved a millage increase in 2016 to address existing facilities that were not meeting the needs of the school district, officials wanted to ensure that the new elementary school would remain on the historic site. Other requirements included working around existing buildings, not interrupting the utilities of surrounding residences, not causing additional disruptions to classes, working within strict windows of time, and staying within a tight budget.

We were given 2.5 months (May to August) to complete the demolition of the old elementary school and necessary earthwork of the 4.3 acre campus. The design process required creative and careful consideration, as the LELA would have to be shaped around existing streets and structures. Construction crews often found themselves working within 25’ of existing buildings and endeavoring to keep utilities on. Through partnering with French Architects and Hill & Cox Construction, our team met the August 2019 deadline within budget.