Clark is currently working on a new three-story, 230,000 SF K-8 school for the Little Rock School District. The project, which includes the demolition of the existing McClellan High School, will more than double the square footage of the building on the same site. Over 50,000 cubic yards of dirt will be excavated to make room for the Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy, including over 1,100 tons of steel.
Located on a spacious 13-acre site, the Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy will support 1,484 students plus faculty and staff. There are 84 classrooms and a cafetorium and competition gym for 1,500 people. A voluminous library will greet students and guests as they enter the building, leading into a welcoming concourse that connects all major public portions of the school. Also included are media center, kitchen, science labs, music rooms, art rooms, and administration.
There are several security features throughout the school, including a bullet-resistant vestibule, intrusion-resistant glazing, secure check-in areas, and separation of academic spaces from the public spaces. The building also has a fully certified FEMA-500 tornado shelter located in the Kindergarten area. In addition, the school has both a wet and dry-pipe sprinkler system that can extinguish fires inside and outside the footprint of the building. Site improvements include new landscaping and irrigation, a new artificial turf soccer field, new playgrounds, and a Special Education sensory garden.
