The Jefferson County (Kentucky) district has begun construction of a new Okolona Elementary School in Louisville.
The district says the 80,330-square-foot replacement facility will cost $30.2 million and will rise on the same 11.45-acre site as the existing school, which was built in 1972. It is expected to open in summer 2027.
The two-story building is organized around a bright, welcoming central commons that connects students and staff to key spaces, including the classroom wing, a secure outdoor courtyard, media center, cafeteria and gymnasium.
Classrooms are grouped around flexible, daylight-filled learning hubs that support collaboration, creativity and small-group instruction.
“This school is designed for the way students learn today,” said Jefferson County Superintendent Brian Yearwood. “It supports collaboration, safety and sustainability.”
The design incorporartes sustainable, energy-efficient systems such as:
- Geothermal heating and cooling with variable frequency drives and water source heat pumps
- Demand control ventilation in high-occupancy areas such as the gym, cafeteria, media center and classrooms
- Outside ventilation air conditioned by the geothermal system with an energy recovery wheel
- Interior and site lighting equipped with energy-efficient LED fixtures
- Occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting systems
- High-efficiency natural gas-fired water heater
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures that minimize water consumption
- Durable brick and metal cladding, energy-efficient windows and an energy-efficient roof.
