Racine Unified School District (RUSD) partnered with Zimmerman to navigate a significant transformation: expanding and converting Starbuck Middle School into a modern K-8 educational facility. The project addressed the district’s strategic goals while managing community concerns and the challenges of rising construction costs. The primary objective was to thoughtfully combine elementary and middle school students into one cohesive campus that supports an advanced curriculum.
Zimmerman’s design team worked closely with the district to address the nuances of this new K-8 model. A key design solution was creating distinct entry and bus drop-off points to safely segregate elementary and middle school students. The project involved both single and two-story additions to house grades K-5, while existing areas were completely renovated and updated for grades 6-8.
The renovated school is designed to support RUSD’s International Baccalaureate (IB) World School curriculum, which fosters cultural understanding and respect. To facilitate this, the design features new and improved science labs, STEM facilities, maker spaces, and career and technical education areas. All new spaces are flexible, allowing them to adapt to current and future educational standards. The updated facility also includes a welcoming main entrance and inspiring common areas for students and visitors.
In line with the district’s strategic plan, the project prioritized creating safe, equitable, and positive learning environments. Zimmerman’s design carefully incorporated major improvements to security, ADA accessibility, building systems, and site circulation for both pedestrians and vehicles. The result is a unified K-8 campus that effectively serves its students and community while supporting the district’s long-term vision for an interdisciplinary, IB-focused K-12 continuum.
