Elementary school under construction in Sioux City, Iowa
The new Hunt Elementary School, now under construction in a midtown neighborhood of Sioux City, Iowa, is scheduled to open in fall 2022.
The Sioux City Journal reports that the L-shaped building will be about three times larger than the previous Hunt, which stood nearby from 1906 until it was demolished in June 2019.
Since then, the school's students have attended classes in the former Crescent Park Elementary School.
The new Hunt will have one of the most urban designs in the district, says Tim Paul, the district's director of operations and maintenance. But, in a nod to its namesake's rich history, it also will incorporate unique building materials from the old school.
Prior to the demolition, officials salvaged some terra cotta, including exterior rosettes, or rose-shaped decorative pieces, as well as the large "Hunt" carved into the sandstone wall on the building's south side.
Though much of the structure will be single-story, the design includes a second floor with classrooms. There will be three outdoor playgrounds, each geared to a specific grade level.
As with other new schools, the new Hunt will have one main entrance, with a security system during school hours to keep pupils safe. Visitors will be directed solely to the principal's office area.
Hunt’s anticipated enrollment in grades pre-K-5 when the school opens is 400, with the school gradually anticipated to grow to 450 over time.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $22 million, district spokeswoman Mandie Mayo says.
The project is being financed by the district's share of a 1-percent sales tax the state designates for new and expanded schools.
The architect is FEH Design.
