eStem Public Charter Schools sees the benefits, both financially and sustainably, in renovating and repurposing abandoned buildings. The East Village school is a great example of urban renewal in an area of Little Rock that had been sitting idle for years. While still tying into the current urban fabric, the WER design team revitalized a 1940’s warehouse into a thriving elementary and junior high school.

Using new technology and current building practices, our design team was able to take an old warehouse and use it to the benefit of the students. The current structure had lofty ceilings and a surplus of square footage. This allowed us to provide wide and tall hallways and an indoor playground for the younger children. This, and the several light monitors cut into the roof, creates a rich dichotomy throughout the building. The interior is industrial but also bright, lofty and aethereal. The final result has breathed new life into East Little Rock and added to the growing development of what is now been dubbed the East Village.