Hopke & Associates, Inc.

Matthew Whaley Elemental School Addition & Renovation Williamsburg, Virginia Size: 60,000 sf renovation, 1,200 sf addition (elevator) Completion Date: 1998
Matthew Whaley Elementary School, constructed in 1929, is one of the few buildings in Colonial Williamsburg used for a modern function unrelated to the Historic Area. Today, it serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
	In the mid-1990s, Hopke & Associates was awarded an open-end contract with Williamsburg- James City County Public Schools. The first project was a preplanning study to determine the most efficient use of Matthew Whaley Elementary School. The study was instrumental in determining a budget and time frame for renovation of this historically significant building.
Hopke & Associates was subsequently awarded the full renovation project. The renovations included redesign of the existing media center to better accommodate collections and technology, addition of an elevator and modifications to bring the school into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and structural, mechanical, and electrical rehabilitation and asbestos abatement. All classrooms were updated with new cabinetry storage; marker, chalk, and tackboards; and carpet and tile flooring, as well as bringing the lighting levels up to code. The kitchen and serving line were gutted and reconfigured to achieve a more serviceable cafeteria. Phasing plans were devised to keep the school operational during construction. From the very start of the renovation, great measure had been taken to preserve the historic characters and original fabric of the building. In August 2004, Matthew Whaley Elementary School was added to the National Register of Historic Places.