Walls, floors and more taking shape

There have been some exciting changes this past month at Legion Road.  The walls are up and the spaces are now defined. The rooms have been painted and the windows have been trimmed.  I chose a soft, warm beige color for the walls which turned out beautifully.

Here is a look at the new elementary classroom as you face the back wall of the school.

This photo shows the adjoining ages 3-6 classrooms including one of the two bathrooms in each.

Another change is the school's front porch. Columns that were plain wood are now trimmed out in white.

The little house for afterschool is painted and trimmed as well and the installation of the flooring has begun.

Lastly, the back yard is starting to take shape. Debris is being removed and the land is being graded.  Excited about all the continuing progress.

-Melanie

New windows, plumbing, backyard and a place for afterschool

It has been a month since the last blog and there are many changes in sight and some not in sight! First of all, we had a slight delay when, after examining the existing plumbing, we decided to go ahead and install all new plumbing. This entailed digging trenches in the foundation, replacing all the pipes and filling in with concrete. Now that the plumbing is new I can honestly say that the ONLY things remaining from the former building are the four outer walls! We will have new electrical, new drywall, new flooring, new windows, new HVAC and finally new plumbing!

Another big change has been the front of the building. The shed roof is up and as you can see in the pictures, the brick façade is going in on the front of the building. There is still a little more work to do but the changes are fantastic! You may also be able to see that we have installed all new windows. Energy efficient and bright, they will make a huge difference in keeping the temperature controlled in the classrooms.

In the backyard, David and Cole Vandermast and friend Avery Smith have been busy clearing the forest of dead trees and debris. David, a plant ecologist, envisions the perfect area for lessons in tree identification, botany and ecology and is also creating a path through the trees that will lead to a sunny community garden area.

Lastly, I have included a couple pictures of the progress in the little house. This building will be the location of a new afterschool program. When I stopped by to take picture, they had already installed the dry wall and were in the process of trimming the windows. It is so cute; I just want to move in!

-Melanie

The transformation has begun!

From 11/29/2012 New Location Update 

I wanted to share with you some photos of the renovation underway at 1702 Legion Road, where MDS will be moving in 2013. After waiting all summer for Chapel Hill to finalize our permits and Suntrust to finalize our loan, the transformation has begun!

Demolition indoors

Bye, bye modular

Beginning of open space outdoors

New front porch addition

If you get a chance to drive by you will see that even since this last picture there are more changes in sight. The front porch has a roof and the brick has arrived for the front façade and column bases.

As soon as it is possible, we will give tours of the new space for current families and have an open house for prospective parents. In the meantime, I will continue to share photos and progress reports.

I am extremely excited about how well this space will meet our needs.  Bill Cederberg, our general contractor, is doing an excellent job and I am very pleased with the progress so far.  Please let me know if you have any questions and don’t hesitate to drive by the new school to see the transformation.

-Melanie Vandermast, Director of Montessori Day School of Chapel Hill

MDS will enjoy long-awaited opportunities!

Welcome to our blog for sharing progress with you as renovations progress at the future home of Montessori Day School of Chapel Hill!

From our March 27, 2012 letter:

We are pleased to announce, with great excitement, a new chapter in our school’s future.  Montessori Day School of Chapel Hill is planning a move to 1702 Legion Road.  This property, on 1.68 acres in the heart of Chapel Hill, provides MDS with an optimal location that combines convenience for our families with the space and resources for MDS to realize many aspirations for our program that are not currently possible.

Our school has flourished at our 1165 Weaver Dairy Road location, ‘home’ for Montessori Day School students since 1982!  Beautiful indoor and outdoor environments have been achieved, but classroom, administrative and storage spaces have been maximized. The time has come for MDS to create an environment where we can meet both our current and future needs.

MDS has been leasing and will continue to lease 1165 Weaver Dairy Road until construction at the new Legion Road location is completed.  Relocation of the school was a term of the purchase of the business stipulated by its former owners, and gives MDS the opportunity to craft an environment that will ensure our school has high quality, updated resources with which we can continue our well-established program and culture for many years to come. 

Melanie has searched extensively for an ideal location to maintain the current available classes and welcoming environment while improving the available space and resources, including offering a new toddler class and afterschool program for ages 3-12.  An architect and a contractor have been hired to transform the current building at Legion Road to fulfill the vision for Montessori Day School’s new home.  Once construction is complete, MDS and our families will enjoy these long awaited opportunities:

-Two full-sized classrooms for a combined 1^st-6^th grade elementary class with modern, in-classroom kitchen for cooking programs and expanded work, project and storage spaces

-New playground equipment and outdoor recreation space, including expanded class gardens and natural forest areas

-Future toddler class, ages 18 months – 2 years old

-Dedicated multi-purpose space for indoor recreation, music and Spanish classes

-Future afterschool and summer camp programs for ages 3-12

-Larger meeting space for parent meetings and events

-Updated office space in front of building so that the office manager can see visitors as they approach and greet them

-Sinks for water works in each of the two classrooms for ages 3-6

-Bathrooms in every classroom

-Brand new, modern heating and cooling systems

-Expanded storage space and staff workroom

In addition to these on-site amenities, this new location lies adjacent to some exciting new changes planned by the Town of Chapel Hill for Rams Plaza and nearby properties, called the Ephesus Church-Fordham Small Area Plan.  These changes mean that MDS will be positioned in a vibrant, modern, convenient and highly desirable area.  To learn more about the plans, visit www.townofchapelhill.org, and search for “Ephesus Church Fordham small area”.  Additionally, many after-school activities are nearby, including dance and ballet, soccer, taekwondo, music and art. 

We share with you fond reflections on the many wonderful memories created at MDS on Weaver Dairy Road and look forward with great excitement and enthusiasm to the bright future ahead for MDS, our students and our families at the new location.  

Sincerely,

Montessori Day School of Chapel Hill Teachers and Staff