ADAMS TWP — Mars Area School District’s board received updates on the district’s elementary school renovation project at its Feb. 4 work session meeting.

Mark Scheller, from DRAW Collective, a Pittsburgh architecture firm, presented proposed renderings for the outside renovations to Mars Area Elementary School.

The renovation project, which was approved in March 2024, is projected to cost around $24 million. The renovation includes a three-story addition on the northwest corner of the building, and will create around 30 new classrooms and a new cafeteria area.

The presentation included design proposals for the entrance and front parking lot drop off loop, as well as views from the back of the building, where a playground would be situated between the existing building and the addition. A concrete “plaza” and outdoor canopy, and a new outdoor stairwell would reach the back entrance into the main corridor of the building.

The presentation received initial feedback, where there was consideration over what colors and what kinds of windows to use on the outside structure. This included what kinds of metal panels to use on the outside and whether to use window glazing on various portions of the addition, as well as use of fiberglass windows. Emphasis was put on allowing natural light into the main lobbies of the building.

According to the school district’s website, construction on the renovation should begin by May 2025, once final designs are approved. Construction is projected to continue through the summer of 2026.

The Mars Elementary School renovation is occurring at the same time as an approved redesign of the high school’s tennis courts, which will cost $550,000.

Various other school districts in Butler County are in the middle of renovating school buildings and even building entire new schools. Knoch, Karns City, Freeport and Slippery Rock Area School Districts are in various stages of renovating existing buildings. Others have completed projects for renovations and new school buildings in recent years.