Kooser Elementary School

Lincoln Public Schools

Kooser Elementary School

Established in 2009 as part of a $250 million bond initiative, Kooser Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade, along with early childhood special education programs. Designed by Sinclair Hille Architects, the 95,000 SF facility sits on a 15-acre site in northwest Lincoln, adjacent to a residential development and public park. The school’s layout prioritizes security, flexibility, and community accessibility, with public-facing spaces like administrative offices, the media center, and the gymnasium near the main entrance, while classrooms and support areas are positioned for privacy. Designed for a capacity of 800 students, the building balances school-day activities with after-hours community use.

To accommodate increasing demand for early childhood education, Sinclair Hille Architects designed a 2,772 SF expansion that integrates seamlessly with the existing early childhood wing. The addition includes a Pre-K/Kindergarten classroom with an age-appropriate restroom and storm shelter, as well as staff and maintenance support spaces. Careful attention was given to architectural continuity, ensuring exterior masonry and interior finishes align with the original design. This expansion reinforces Kooser Elementary’s commitment to providing a secure, welcoming, and functional learning environment for its students and the broader community.

 
 

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I enjoyed working with SHA on the Canopy Street Project.  It was a very complex project which required both large scale design thought as well as a focus on small details. Their professionalism impressed me as well as all of the other clients in the project from restaurants, to hotel operations through condo buyers, SHA continued to move the project forward and solve problems with all in mind.  As a licensed architect myself I really appreciated their willingness to partner with me and listen to my design ideas while improving the direction time and time again. Quite simply, Canopy Street would not have been nearly as successful without SHA’s talented staff.

Brett West

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