Echo Loder Elementary School Replacement
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A New Chapter for a Familiar Campus
This long-established elementary school site in Reno is preparing for a major transformation. Identified through the District’s Facility Modernization Plan (FMP), the campus replacement reflects a commitment to updating aging infrastructure while preserving the neighborhood connections that have defined the school for generations.
Rebuilding Without Leaving the Site
The project will replace the existing school with a new two-story elementary facility constructed on the current campus. A phased approach allows the new building to be completed first, with the original school remaining in place until students and staff can transition into the new space. Once the new facility is occupied, the original structure will be demolished, clearing the way for a new playground and outdoor learning areas. This sequencing minimizes disruption, avoids extended relocations, and provides a clear path from old to new while maintaining daily school operations.
Designed for Modern Learning
The new building will follow the District’s current elementary prototype, developed to support contemporary teaching models and flexible instruction. PB team members have built three similar elementary prototype schools alongside WCSD and H+K Architects—Poulakidas, Inskeep, and Mitchell.
Planned spaces for the new Loder Elementary School include classrooms designed for adaptability, collaborative group learning areas, and a media center that supports both individual and shared learning experiences.
Planning for Safety and Logistics
Design-bid-build delivery places added importance on early clarity around access, boundaries, and site logistics. Planning efforts focus on maintaining safe separation between construction activity and occupied school areas, with careful consideration given to circulation, drop-off and pick-up patterns, utilities, and emergency access. Clear communication and defined sequencing will help ensure that the campus remains safe, legible, and functional as the work progresses.
A Phased Path to Completion
Following completion of the new school, demolition of the original building will open space for a new playground and outdoor amenities. This final phase will complete the campus transformation.
Supporting District Priorities
As one of the early projects approved under the FMP, the campus replacement represents a long-term investment by WCSD. The District’s approach balances modernization with continuity, delivering a facility built to current educational standards while respecting the site’s role within its surrounding neighborhood.
