Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Douglas Taylor Elementary School

David Mason + Associates provided civil and structural engineering services for accessibility improvements at Chicago Public School’s Douglas Taylor Elementary School, located at 9912 S. Avenue H in Chicago, Illinois. The 1.9-acre campus includes a three-story school building, an asphalt-paved parking lot, and play areas. Improvements focused on the east main entrance, interior entry vestibule, and pedestrian route connecting the entrance to the northwest parking lot.

For civil engineering services, our work included a new exterior sloped walkway, grading, demolition, erosion control, tree protection and landscape restoration plans, and concrete sidewalk repairs. The walkway was designed below the 1:20 (5%) slope threshold to provide an accessible route without requiring railings or structural footings. For structural engineering services, our work included redesigning the vestibule’s support system as the interior accessibility solution evolved from a ramp to a vertical platform lift. We replaced the original geofoam infill concept with concrete grade beams spanning between existing foundation elements and adapted the framing to support the lift.

We also prepared construction documents and bid addendum drawings, supported permitting, and provided construction-phase assistance through submittal reviews and responses to contractor questions.