Baker Demonstration School

Wilmette, Illinois
  • Progressive education – focused design
  • Public entitlement approvals

This private K-8 progressive school wanted its campus to do a better job meeting its educational mission, serving its students, and connecting with the community. The Lakota Group worked with parents and staff to create a Campus Master Plan that includes creative child-centered play spaces, better traffic and pedestrian circulation, and an artificial turf athletic field that will improve safety, functionality, and attractiveness at the school’s front door. The Campus Master Plan has received strong support and Baker Demonstration School has asked The Lakota Group to lead a team that includes architecture and engineering firms in order to begin implementation. Lakota is currently developing construction documents for the first phase of implementation.

Over the past year, Lakota Group helped our school develop a creative, engaging, and child-centered outdoor master facilities plan. The plan incorporated many voices and stakeholder opinions, and helped our school community take a reflective look at ourselves, our curriculum, and the connection between our mission and our outdoor learning and play spaces. Lakota has continually demonstrated a sensitivity to our fiscal demands, and crafted a forward thinking plan that well balanced all our needs. Lakota's work has been so on target, that we are now using it as the cornerstone of our new Capital Campaign. I strongly recommend their services.Dan Schwartz, Head of School

Building on its previous work creating a Campus Master Plan for this private K-8 progressive school, in the fall of 2015 Baker Demonstration School asked The Lakota Group to lead a team that includes architecture and engineering firms to begin implementation. Elements of this phase include public hearings leading to zoning approvals and a special use permit; collaboration with neighbors to address their concerns; preparation of construction documents; and coordination with the architectural firm with respect to interior.