Woodbury Middle Years Building | Build Shaker Better

WOODBURY

Woodbury
Middle Years Building

Originally Constructed: 1918
Original Architect: Franz Warner

Wings added: 1931 (now demolished)

Gym addition: 1958 (now demolished)

Pool addition: 1969 (now demolished)

Building History:

Initially constructed for use as the senior high school, it became a junior high school after the current high school was constructed.

In 1985, the building was closed and junior high occupancy was concentrated at the Byron building. In 1987, it became known as Woodbury Elementary, serving grades 5 and 6. It was closed at the end of 2022-2023 school year, and construction work started in 2025 with abatement and selective demolition.

Costs for renovation of Woodbury School for use as the Middle Years Building are funded by a portion of the bond levy approved by voters on the November 2023 ballot (Issue 13).

2023 Enrollment:* 642 students (grades 5-6)

(321 per grade average)

2019 Enrollment: 763 students

(382 per grade average)

2015 Enrollment: 838 students

(419 per grade average)

2023 Bldg. Capacity: 981 students

Grades served: When renovations and additions are complete in 2027, the building will serve grades 6-8.

*Woodbury was closed after the 2023-24 school year, with 5th grade students integrated into existing elementaries, and 6th grade students relocated to the Middle School (Byron) campus swing space. Current 2025-26 enrollment for grades 6-8 is 930 students, an average of 310 students per grade.

Site amenities:

The front lawn of the building has historically been open for formal and informal athletic use. A track and field oval is shared with the Onaway campus.

These features remain in the new site plan, with the oval length shrinking slightly while retaining a full-sized play field.

The District maintains a page with information about the Woodbury renovations here.

Renovation Architect: GPD Group / RPMI**

Design Consultant: Bialosky + Partners***

Architectural/engineering services and reimbursable expenses are performed under a $12 million blanket contract for facilities master plan work.

** GPD holds the prime contract and is responsible for project management, and provided work for exteriors, demo, engineering, furniture, graphics, and approvals. Additionally they lead engagement and management subconsultants for the pool, LEED certification, testing, etc. RPMI is responsible for the interiors and interior architecture, including associated documentation and construction administration.

***Bialosky was engaged directly on by the School District to assist with Woodbury exterior design on 5.13.2025, after the project appeared at the 4.8.2025 Planning/Zoning meeting. At that meeting, CPC-BZA members had expressed concern regarding the design progress and quality.

04.08.2025 Planning/Zoning minutes

05.13.2025 Bialosky + Partners design consultation agreement

Construction Manager: Gilbane Building Co.

Building Area: 66,839 sq. ft. existing to remain

119,423 sq. ft. additions

186,262 sq. ft. total

Site Area: 22 acres (shared w/ Onaway)

Project Construction Budget:

Initial OFCC budget: $61,602,983

Design Development: $69,783,385

(includes $15.56m for locally funded initiatives (LFIs), the auditorium and natatorium with no State cost share)

Unit Costs: $375 per sq. ft. total project

Renovation portion $209 per sq. ft.

New const. portion $435 per sq. ft.

Project Schedule:

Design Start September, 2024

Bldg. Demo Start May 19, 2024

Planning Approval November 5, 2025

Construction Start October 5, 2025

Scheduled Finish July 30, 2027

School Start

Scheduled August 2027

Shared facilities: The building design includes addition of a new gymnasium. It also includes Locally Funded Additions of an auditorium ($5.1m) and natatorium ($10.5m), funded by the district without a corresponding cost share contribution from the State of Ohio.

The building is designed to accommodate community use of these spaces, with the ability to secure the educational portions of the building from access at times these areas are open to the public.

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Key Project Issues

Project Schedule: foundation delay

The schedule for construction of building foundations, an essential early step in construction, were reported to be 'off-track' at the January 13, 2026 Board of Education meeting.

Work originally scheduled to start on 11.6.2025 has now been pushed back by 12 weeks and now indicated to begin the first week of February.

Community engagement

At present, the only broad community engagement opportunity has been an electronic survey opened to community member response early in the design process. The questions on the survey related to broad inquiries about amenities and a visual preference survey.

The Facilities advisory committee recommended an open house event be held to share design progress and solicit input, but no such event has yet been scheduled.

Tree protection

Following concerns at Ludlow, the District has conducted a thorough tree assessment and project drawings indicate requirements for tree root protection zones on the project site.

These zones are only effective if maintained and enforced. To protect legacy oak trees that date back to the original construction of the building, the school district and contractor will need to be proactive in ensuring these restrictions are honored. Already seven trees that were indicated to be protected have been cut down.

Rose Garden

The historic rose garden remains at the location where it was established at when the building was first constructed as Shaker's original high school. It has been maintained by a dedicated group of community volunteers. Through their advocacy, the District's design team modified the site plan to maintain garden areas previously indicated to be removed. However, the survival of the full garden will require great care during construction operations to avoid damage to the plantings.

Pedestrian and Bike Safety / Planning

The original parking lot and internal drive prioritized rapid car movement. Through suggestions by the Planning Commission Working Group site design review, measures were incorporated to slow traffic and provide safer ways for pedestrians to approach the entry.

Additional bicycle parking was added and distributed to primary building entrances.

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Woodbury entrance: April 2025 design

This initial entrance design presented to the City's Planning Commission on April 8, 2025. Commission members expressed concern regarding the quality of the design and its appropriateness for Shaker, indicating they were "underwhelmed" and that the design was "uninspiring" and the "architectural quality... not ready yet".

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